Bpb Review: Punjab Grill

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A coin-sized peppermint lay in the dish before us. Shouldn’t this come at the end of the meal? Before we could voice the thought, a waiter poured water over the tablet, and it spiraled and grew into a wet napkin roll!

Fingers wiped clean, we wondered if the magic would continue at Punjab Grill, the brand new Indian restaurant at Lower Parel. Sitting under a dreamy, cascading chandelier, watching druid-like chefs stir giant copper cauldrons in an open kitchen, it felt like it would.

Shots, Anyone?
Page one of the menu at this elegant eatery promised treats from undivided Punjab, borrowing influences from Sikh, Pathan, Punjabi and Hindu cooking. Akshay, our steward for the afternoon insisted that we start with the Kurkuri, six Indian-style spring rolls that came in individual shot glasses, pre-dipped in the most delicious sweet chilli sauce. The melted cheese, mushrooms, pine nuts and sun dried tomato melded together into one of the best, most unusual appetisers we’ve had in a long time. These we washed down with refreshing, fiery Shikanjvi, Punjabi lemonade with salt and pepper.

Delhi-catessen
Punjab Grill features meats that most Indian restaurants stay away from. Here, you can have duck, scallops and lobster, all marinated in Tandoori masalas. We opted instead, for the more traditional Raan Hari Singh Nalwa: Lamb in ostentatious gravy cooked with cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg and spiked with rum. It tasted grand, as did the Dal Makhani, smoky and rich. The Paneer Kadhai on the other hand, was overly sweet with no signs of the vibrant spices that its description promised. Remember, the portions here are humongous, a fact that left us with no room for dessert. Our finger bowls, held in edgy silver saucers was a nice final touch.

Table Scanners
Our appetites satisfied, we looked around the restaurant, taking in the setting – understated cream walls and chic mini room-like booths, offset by flashy chandeliers. Full credit to Delhi-based restaurateur Jiggs Kalra, who’s kept his latest venture away from all the trappings of a mall restaurant – not once during our meal did we feel like we were in one of city’s busiest shopping complexes, in a neighbourhood chaotic with shoppers, offices and stores.

But the luxury does come at a price. With an average dish costing Rs 400, get ready to shell out at least Rs 700 per head. More with alcohol, we found when the bill arrived. We suppose the magic had to end sometime.

Getting there: 3rd floor, Palladium Mall, High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel, call 43473981, Rs 1,400 for a meal for two.

At Brown Paper Bag, we review restaurants anonymously and pay for our own meals.

Weekend Guide: Flying Solo

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bETTER HALF

What: bpb’s Flying Solo week at Prive, Colaba; Bonobo, Bandra; Mocha Mojo, Bandra; Tulips, Kemps Corner; and Kino108, Versova.

Why: bpb’s initiative to get you to spend more time with yourself. This week, visit any of our abovementioned partners alone, and receive a bpb incentive: check out the deals here. One-derful!

When: You want to be singled out. From January 29 to February 5.

pAJAMAS

What: Breakfast in Bed home delivery, Soda, above Rolling Beans, Aram Nagar 1, Versova, call 26346688, start at Rs 100, free delivery from Juhu to Oshiwara.

Why: You may never cook breakfast again. This new service brings honey glazed omelets, Jamaican spiced bacon, sausages and other morning goodies right to your doorstep.

When: You want to be comfortably crumbed.

***

What: Satin boxers and tops in a jar, Pop Att, to order call 9820510790 or email info.popatt@gmail.com, also available at Muse, Sobo and Amara, Rs 1,200.

Why: Designed by celeb stylists Rakhi Parekh and Khushboo Lahori, these tie-dye boxers and shirts are super sexy. We also love their other lifestyle products like colourful MugPot planters that come with seeds and soil.

When: You want get your hand in the nookie jar.

bRAKE

What: The Blind Man Car Rally by National Association for the Blind (NAB) and Round Table India (RTI), download the form here or call 9322178247, visit www.mumbairally.com, Rs 1,200 registration fee.

Why: At this fund raising rally, you get to race your car down a secret Mumbai route with help from a visually impaired navigator who decodes a Braille sheet of clues. Flag off at Worli Sea Face.

When: You want to touch and go. On February 7 at 7 am; sign up before February 4.

***

What: Trainer for every terrain, Scrunch fitness, call Zaid on 9821622122/ 9820645592 or visit www.scrunch.in, starts at Rs 800 per session.

Why: From water games to a sweaty set on the beach, the guys at newly launched Scrunch can send in a personal trainer and equipment to help you work out in the setting you like best. On a mountain top too!

When: You want to recover from (the) Rocky Road.

***
Event Round-Up: Swing nights at Olive Bar & Kitchen, Mahalaxmi on Feb 1 and 2; gawk at luxury yachts at Gateway of India at the Indian Marine Federation Boating Days trade shows on Jan 30 and 31; award-winning Jazz pianist performs at Blue Frog on Jan 31.

Open for Business

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Powder your noses, because Escobar has arrived in Bandra with select stash and a fancy entourage. Probably named after the infamous drug lord, this swanky new terrace club boasts many superlatives: the city’s longest bar (77 feet), yummiest coffee cocktails (Mochatini), coolest female DJ (Priyanjana’s house music kept the fit on their feet), and most number of has-been celebrities (Poonam Dhillon and Shekhar Suman were at the opening party last night!).

Preview Predictions
In Escobar, we predict that Bandra’s hippest will find a new favourite drinking hole. Starting at Rs 235 and conceptualised by bartender Shatbi Basu, the cocktails here are innovative and fabulously intoxicating; avoid the too strong pepper-infused Margherita and get the Watermelon martini instead. And if the starters are anything to go by - mini falafel, thin crust olive pizzas served with chilli garlic sauce, cheesy chicken, duck crostini, pepper prawns, avacado sushi- a meal here will be worth your money as well.

Let’s Go Outside
Although the covered space is easy on the eyes - all wooden and classically white, al fresco is the best option this time of the year. Just concentrate on your perfectly mixed drink and cool breeze, and you can almost ignore the three in-your-face hoardings advertising the upcoming Svayamwar of Rahul Mahajan. Trashy reality dramas not withstanding, it’s clear that Escobar is here to spread magic dust on the neighbourhood’s nightlife, which, with the closing of nearby hotspot Zenzi, was beginning to lose a bit of its lustre.

Getting there: Escobar, 4th floor, 199 VN Sphere Mall, 4th Floor, Linking Road, Bandra (W), check out the Facebook group here.

From Manchester to Mumbai
Try as we might, we just can’t see the brand new Manchester United Cafe Bar in Mumbai playing host to a bunch of crazed soccer fans, faces painted, hands switching between beer mugs and belligerent gestures. The football team’s official café, opening in the city next week, is too slick for spills and too cold for cusses. On the flipside, it does have a 19 feet television screen that will telecast live sporting events from all over the world. Score!

Gold Trafford
During our sneak peek at the Man-Utd space yesterday, cut outs of the “Glory, Glory, Glory” tagline and Sir Alex Ferguson’s pictures were still being pinned to walls. The red and black interior with its smooth glass bar, long community table, and large television screens struck us as generic, and a far cry from traditions of Old Trafford, which is apparently the main inspiration. But details like a tunnel-effect entrance (the kind players use to get on the field) a dugout –shaped Player’s Table’and the Manager’s Bench were charming. Also for kicks, check out the leather football poufs and bottomless beer tables with built-in coolers.

Footsie
The menu is being kept under wraps for now, but a bit of scouting revealed that it will include player favourites, English dishes like fish and chips, and no beer on top (alas)! A Man-Utd information counter for the clueless, private party room with Nintendo Wii and PS3, and a merchandise wall are other additions.

Getting There: Manchester United Cafe Bar, Palladium, Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel.

And the Winner Is...

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Even as the afterglow from the Golden Globes begins to fade and Padmas rouse tempers across the country, we bring you three red carpets moments to enjoy in the city today. Just remember to thank us in your acceptance speech.

Dancing With the Stars

Tap dance your way down the red carpet with Broadway actor/ choreographer and Emmy Award winner Jason Samuels Smith in an Arts in Motion workshop tonight and tomorrow, from 8.30 to 9.30 pm. Ta da!

Getting there: Arts in Motion Dance Studios, 39, T.V. Chidambaran Marg, Sion (E), call 9820380009, Rs 300 for one day and Rs 500 for both.

Best Picture

This afternoon, Golden Globe nominee Baz Luhrmann gets his hands dirty, and you’re invited to watch. Stop by Le Sutra between 4 and 7 pm, and you can catch the Moulin Rouge director along with Archibald Art Prize winner Vincent Fantauzzo (famous for the portrait he made of Heath Ledger after the actor passed away) paint a mural on the walls of this hip new art hotel.

Getting there: Le Sutra Hotel, Union Park, next to Olive Bar and Kitchen, Khar (W), call 26492995.

bpb’s Booze Awards

Not ones to be left out of the rat race, we, along with our motley panel of judges – alcohol-loving actors, musicians, filmmakers, corporates - conducted our own award show at China House, evaluating their new range of specialty cocktails. Only difference was, here cardamom replaced controversy, and Bacardi drowned out bitterness.

Our favorite? The Bonnie Beb, which we crowned Miss Sunshine. Made with Dewar’s, apricot brandy, apple juice and Assam tea, drinking this cocktail is like strolling through the Highlands on a perfect Autumn day – sunny and breezy on your tongue, but with a slight aftertaste of the storm to come. Also try Perfume (Biggest Tease), B.O.S.S (Best Brawler) and B-42 (Miss Asia Pacific).

Getting there: China House, Grand Hyatt Hotel, On the Airport Road, Santacruz (W), Rs 1,500 cover charge on Wednesday Night.

Bicycle Diaries

Dear Diary,
On February 21, I will do the impossible - Wake up at 6 am on a Sunday morning, shine my bicycle, put on a helmet and race across a car-free Bandra-Worli Sea Link along with other city riders. I’ve already registered and coughed up 500 bucks. There’s no turning back now.

Wish me luck!

Love,
Bpb Bum.

Mark the date and set the alarm clock. The India Cyclothon Mumbai 2010 is racing towards the city, and will hit the brakes on February 21. While internationally-renowned players like the Marco Polo Cycling team will compete in the Tour de Mumbai race (100 kms), non-professionals can participate in the Corporate Group Ride (24 kms), Amateur Track (24 kms), the Green Ride (12 kms) and the Kids Race (2 kms).

Registrations are now open and anyone above the age of eight with a bicycle can join in. The event, aimed at promoting the health and environmental benefits of cycling, is organised by ID Sports in association with Network 18 and Salman Khan’s Being Human organisation.

Getting there: BSA Hercules India Cyclothon Mumbai 2010, call 6131 0500 (10 am to 6 pm Mon-Sat), email indiacyclothon@gmail.com or visit www.mumbaicyclothon.com. Register here now, Rs 350 to 500 registration fee.

Chain and Able
If you’re looking for another carbon-cutting course, ditch your car and take a leisurely walk from Bandra’s Carter Road to Bandstand, the route mapped out for Car Free Day in Mumbai. Scheduled for the same day as the Cyclothon (February 21), this path winds through the charming Chimbai Village, and will be scattered with live performers, painters, musicians, roller skaters, cyclists and fellow strollers.

Getting there: View the Facebook group here.

Saved by the Bell

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A UN study estimates that up to 70 percent of married women in India face domestic abuse. And what can you do to help them? Ring the doorbell. It’s that simple, claims the Bell Bajao campaign (http://www.bellbajao.org/), launched in 2008 by Breakthrough, an international human rights organization that uses media channels to change perspectives and erase biases in India and the United States. And starting last week, they moved into fashion as well.

Bells and Whistles

Unlike the banal and exorbitantly expensive products such campaigns usually churn out, the Bell Bajao merchandise, which includes T-shirts designed by Narendra Kumar and Lecoanet Hemant (start at Rs 500) and a tote bag by Aki Narula (Rs 2,000), are uber-cool and surprisingly affordable.

We especially love the tote, which is large enough to hold your entire life and stylish enough to take to lunch. It has six large pockets in which you can stash your keys, cell phone, wallet, make-up, each adorned with a different bell illustration and Aki’s signature (which we could have done without). Only bummer: the bag is made from white canvas, and if you’re anything like us it’ll be grimy in a week. We were assured, however, that it can be hand-washed without damage.

The unisex graphic T-shirts are fun and less expensive, but we imagine them being relegated to our sleepwear drawer after a couple of wears in public.

Final Musings

You can find the merchandise all this month at Muse, a luxury fashion store in Kala Ghoda. Be sure to check out their regular stock as well – nicely curated clothes and accessories by designers like Anupamaa, Gaurav Gupta and Manish Arora, as well as some international brands. They’re currently on sale, so you might just find something that won’t cost you a month’s rent.

Happy shopping, and remember – ring the bell!

Getting there: Muse, 46, Dr VB Gandhi Marg, opposite the blue synagogue, near Rhythm House, Kala Ghoda.

Weekend Guide: Under Cover in Mumbai

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bpb Contest: Will Carlos Tevez score at the second leg of the Manchester Derby? Answer this question correctly to win cool ManU merchandise or passes to the opening party at Manchester United Cafe Bar, coming soon to Mumbai! Email us at guide@bpbweekend.com.

bLANK

What: Dr. Art + Design aesthetic management company, Bajaj Onyx, ground floor, 36/37, Union Park, Khar (W), call 26463373, price on request.

Why: Just for you, we scouted out the geniuses behind Le Sutra, Mumbai’s hottest new art hotel (read our full review here). Dr. Art + Design, with their team of sculptors, installation artists, interior designers and textile specialists can breathe new life into any space, from a tiny cubicle to your entire apartment.

When: You want to heart deco.

***

What: Laser tagging and graffiti in Mumbai, &Then in collaboration with Graffiti Research Lab (GRL), Colaba to Goregaon, call Vikram Sood at 9819648427, participation free.

Why: Want to graffiti the Taj, or paint the walls of Phoenix Mills red? Here’s how you can: this weekend, &Then along with GRL will project lasers onto public landmarks, on which you can draw virtual art with a motion tracking laser point (watch video here). Everyone gets a turn!

When: From January 24 – 28, 8 pm to 4 am; kick off event at Zenzi Mills on Jan 23. Event subject to change. For updates and exact locations follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

pOP

What: Chocolate covered strawberries, Shocolaat, next to Red Ninja, Carter Road, Bandra (W), to order call 9920561313, Rs 30 per piece.

Why: The guys at this brand new chocolate boutique – opens next week - might be terrible spellers, but they know how to treat a strawberry. Dipped in white or milk chocolate, coated with sprinkles, coconut shavings and tiny sugar hearts, it’s the juiciest, sexiest dessert in the city.

When: You want to make a fruity call. Get your hit while still in season!

***

What: Bombay Local Route Marks by Swa, call 9819451906 or visit Sobo, Motor House, Hughes Road, Rs 100 for a pack of four.

Why: Designed by NID graduates Maithili and Ankan Mandal, these pop-coloured bookmarks map local rail routes and are sure to brighten up your morning commute.

When: You don’t want to lose your train of thought.

bOUCHE

What: Coin-sized olive and pepper pizzas, call Nina on 9821047714 / 26162382, Rs 20 per piece, home delivery anywhere in the city.

Why: Nina’s unbelievably cute olive and pepper pizzas, inch-long tacos and mini chocolate cups may be petite, but they’re also big on taste.

When: You want an amuse(d) bouche.

***
Event Round-Up: Trek to Pali and participate in a tree planting drive on Jan 24; DJ Ruskin on Jan 28 at Valhalla; and wine tasting at Bonobo on Jan 24 from 7 pm to 9 pm.

Le Sutra: Get Roped Inn

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Step into India’s subconscious. On level one is the all-consuming tamas guna, opulent and erotic. On level two, the active, passionate rajas guna. And balanced perfectly on level three is the minimalist, ethereal sattva guna. Best part is that if you can shell out the moolah, a “chakra” elevator will take you straight to the highest level, usually reached by only a few evolved beings.

This 21st century shortcut to nirvana and more is on offer at Le Sutra, Mumbai’s newest spiritual art hotel.

Chamber Made

Every room at this brand new property tells different stories - philosophical, historic, religious, mythological - expressed spectacularly through specially commissioned art installations. Ingeniously, these also double up as furniture. A Star Wars light saber-style Trishul for instance, pointedly reminds its guests of creation, maintenance and destruction, but also serves as a coat rack. The edgy damaru art piece that symbolises conscious and unconscious states is also a bedside table. And the exquisite chairs, corresponding with the themes of each room, could easily be mistaken for pieces of art.

Of Chairs, Chakras and Chakli

Unveiled earlier this week, Le Sutra has opened only its Sattva floor, with Tamas and Rajas waiting in the wings. This last level features Shuddhi, Prakriti, Nirvaan and Mandala rooms. Our favourite is the earthy Nirvaan chamber with a Buddha fresco, a Dove and Hand cupboard that keeps your mind in check, giant Khadau slippers that prevent outflow of energy and a Sanchi Stupa Chair that will help attain a Bodhisattva state of mind. Divine!

It’s amazing how much attention has gone into the interiors of this little hotel: a see-through panel in the elevator displays seven body chakras as you ascend; a living tree outside the Prakriti Room is fitted with multi-coloured wooden parrots; soya chakli and other healthy treats grace complimentary room trays.

A Room With a View Point

The Indian art themes and exotic in-house services – face reader, chakra cleanser, yoga teacher – may seem gimmicky, but one look at the rooms and you’ll know that the hotel is deeply thought out and researched, and is much more than a tourist trap.

If EM Forster were alive, he’d agree that Le Sutra could inspire another Room With A View. Or at least one with a view point.

Getting there: Le Sutra, Union Park, next to Olive Bar and Kitchen, Khar (W), call 26492995 or www.lesutra.in; bookings start after a month, Rs 7,500 to 9,500 per room.

Not Too Cool for School (Uniforms)

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Eight months, one dress and many accessories later, a New York-based design professional has managed to make the uniform cool again. Last year, Sheena Matheiken began a year-long “wearathon”, donning the same dress everyday with different layers and accessories. Titled the Uniform Project, this initiative, she hoped, would raise awareness for sustainable fashion as well as money to fund uniforms and other educational equipment for Akanksha’s School Project.

Design Chameleon

Ever since, Matheiken’s innovative reinvention of a simple LBD – worn with tights and T-shirts, churidars and hats - has attracted the attention of fashionistas and philanthropists from all over the globe (to make a donation, visit www.theuniformproject.com). She recently helped kick-off a recycle fashion initiative at Mumbai’s Bungalow 8, which we scoped out for your reading and (wearing) pleasure.

A Different Drape

Scattered through the cavernous rooms of this home and fashion store, slung over the back of a wicker rocking chair or hooked onto an antique mirror, we found bomber and boucle jackets crafted from brightly hued saris. Made by Goa-based designer Miriam Strehlau, these were unusual and super pretty – we particularly loved a jersey-trimmed fuchsia version, embroidered with antique sequins. Also available was a fun bib necklace by Little Shilpa, with a tangle of sari scraps, and mojaris by Sanchita, built from patches of Indian fabric.

Getting there: 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors, 17 Arthur Bunder Road, Colaba, call 22819880, jackets start at Rs 3,000.

Recycle Thieves

If you don’t feel like dropping a cool Rs 5,000 on a (really awesome) summer jacket, head to Taxxi and Vitamin K’s Recycling Workshop next week. Bring along old textiles and clothes, and NID-trained designers Nitya Amarnath and Juhi Pandey will breathe new life into them. Swatch out!

Getting there: 3 and 4 Kusum Kunj, next to Mango, Linking Road, Khar (W).Workshop from January 24 to 29, by appointment only, call 65259382.

bpb Review: Tulips

Tulips, a new restaurant and wine room in Kemps Corner, is all angles: bar, tables and dessert cases are tucked into nooks and crannies that open up to a postage-size dining room. The walls are wooded and showcase murals of pretty Parisian cafés; chairs are elegant and spindly, lighting is soft. The resulting space is cozy and perfect for this casual, interesting and surprisingly affordable eatery.

From Penang and Pisa with Love

Tulips’ menu reaches far and wide for inspiration, incorporating Asian, Mediterranean, Italian and American influences. Mainstays such as pizza and sandwiches are offered, as is more unusual fare, including a truly superior spanakopita.

Pick Your Poison

Also surprising is the extensive wine list, which features more than twenty five Indian options, exclusively sourced from Indage and reasonably priced (start at Rs 150 for a glass). Remember, however, to stay away from the Malbec: it’s terribly bitter, with a septic aftertaste. International choices are equally robust, with Italian, French, Australian, Argentinean, Chilean and Californian labels available. Alas, these aren’t served by the glass yet.

Hot Buns!

Our dinner began with an old-style veggie burger that came with a cherry on top. Accompanying it were fries (we would have preferred them crispier, but others on our table argued that they were perfect) and a pile of coleslaw that we all agreed could use more dressing. The burger itself was yum, with garlicky mayo, sharp cheese, fresh tomatoes and a juicy patty, all sandwiched between a soft bun whose bottom had been firmed up in the toaster.

Another good choice was the chicken teriyaki wrap, a near-perfect medley of soft tortillas, sautéed onions, pillowy chicken strips and darkly piquant sauce.

Pie in the Sky

The spanakopita, however, was the high point of our meal. Here, the kitchen did a riff on the traditional spinach pie, upgrading it to crackling philo pastry pockets filled with a creamy mixture of corn, spinach and cheese. Accompanying these were salty Kalamata olives, deeply flavourful basil pesto and herby, tomato-flecked rice. This dish is a complete meal in itself, one that we’ll happily go back to again and again.

Dessert of apple pie (ask for it warm with a side of ice cream) and Jack Daniels torte was adequate, but not awesome. This was particularly disappointing as the place is an extension of the adjoining Deli Fresh bakery, popular for its sweets.

Restaurant Resurrection

According to the manager, the owners of Deli Fresh used to run a restaurant called Tulips two decades ago, which was a fixture on Bombay’s culinary scene before it shut down in 1995. This new avatar, they hope, will equal the glory of its predecessor.

Amen to that.

Getting there: Dhun-Abad, 106 Bhulabhai Desai Road, opposite Muchchad Paanwala, call 23683655, Rs 800 for a meal for two, including wine and dessert.

Weekend Guide: View Finder

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bINOCULARS

What: Marcus Leatherdale at Matthieu Foss Gallery, ground floor, Hansraj Damodar building, Goa Street, Ballard Estate, entry free, prints start at 2,000 USD.

Why: Even though his subjects reinforce every cliché about rural India - cows and elephants, bananas and sadhus, ripped men in tiny loin cloths – this Canadian-born photographer knows how to wield a camera. His portraits are severe, sharp, spectacular – and all without the help of Photoshop. Read our full review here.

When: Exhibit opens today and runs through February 13.

***

What: Escobar, 4th floor, VN Sphere, opposite Shoppers Stop, Junction of Turner and Linking Road, Bandra (W).

Why: Sharing its moniker with the infamous Pablo Escobar, this expansive new rooftop bar is ready to get Bandra high. Slated to open next week, we got a sneak peak at the seriously awesome interiors: wooden paneling, plush white upholstery and swanky wall-to-wall bar. European (in particular Spanish) treats and elaborate cocktails are on the menu.

When: You want to praise the (drug) lord. bpb review out soon!

pLEAT

What: Quirky origami ornaments, call Avni Uchat 9321131122 / 9930334774, view portfolio here, order at least 5 days in advance, start at Rs 30 per piece.

Why: An electronic engineer with a penchant for paper folding, Avni makes intricate origami bunnies, dragons, toads, tulips, ashtrays, baskets, fans. Hail Creaser! Also part of the crafty trio are her mum and sis, who’ll come over to teach you the art if you have a group of five or more.

When: You want to pa(y)per view.

***

What: Bespoke ’60s fashion for men, The Glow Barn, level 2, Libra Towers, 70 Hill Road, opposite St Peters Church, Bandra, call 9967008525, start at Rs 1,500.

Why: Seersucker trousers, plaid shirts, dapper suits in periwinkle blue: rewind your style at this new store. Also try on their Jodhpur pants for kicks.

When: You’re up for retro knight.

bREADED

What: Vegetarian and chicken Russian Kotleti, call 9819078365 / 26431784, 1st floor Silver Sand, Turner Road, next to HSBC Bank, Rs 18 per piece, free delivery in Bandra.

Why: Shabnam Merchant’s creamy, exotic cutlets are a far cry from your mum’s fried versions. Stuffed with cheese, vegetables and herbs, these are awesome for breakfast or as finger food.

When: You want the crème de la Kremlin.

Event Round-Up: Watch rock band Zedde perform at Gadda da Vida on Jan 15, Kite flying workshop at Big Red Tent on January 16, and Nikhil Chopra walks from Bandra to Colaba and back, sketching the things he sees from Jan 14 – 16.

Smile, Please

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The opening act of Matthieu Foss Gallery, a space dedicated exclusively to photo-based art, features black and white portraits that are simultaneously beautiful and banal. Taken by veteran photographer Marcus Leatherdale, these photos of Adivasis have amazing aesthetic appeal, but also reinforce every cliché of rural India: there are cows and elephants, bananas and saadhus, numerous ripped men in tiny loin cloths.

Surface Reflections

This largely unoriginal, outsider’s perspective is particularly disappointing in light of the fact that Leatherdale is not a travelling photographer, but one who lives amongst tribes in Chhotanpur, Jharkand for six months a year.

Flashes of Life

There are, however, frames in which his familiarity with the people, his viewpoint on their culture comes across: in the print of a saadhu looking tenderly up at the sky, a young monk laughing so hard he can’t keep his eyes open, a woman fully bent over, her form a tangle of twisted, awkward shapes. In one photo, a young girl veiled behind a zardozi pallu looks seductive rather than repressed; in another, the thick ornaments around a man’s neck are reminiscent of shackles.

Star Attractions

Leatherman’s experience as a fashion photographer is apparent in the handful of celebrity shots scattered through the exhibit. Dimple Kapadia has never looked better than through his lens, where she channels her regal, earthy self (think Lekin and Rudaali), and a supine, blouse-less shot captures exactly the essence of Protima Bedi.

A Clear View

Whether the subject is bananas or buns, Leatherman’s photography remains stunningly sharp. You can see every dust mote, every callus, every sparkling sequin. According to a gallery curator, Leatherman is heavily into analog photography, and develops all the film himself. None of his work is ever Photoshopped.

The space itself is simple and whitewashed, a perfect foil for the pictures. If the trials and tribulations of primitive Indian life are not your thing, you can catch the gallery’s next exhibit by Shahid Datawala, beginning mid-Feb. But we suggest you drop in for this one, if for nothing more than the pleasure of good, old fashioned photography in our air brushed, hyper-digitalised world.

Getting there: Matthieu Foss Gallery, ground floor, Hansraj Damodar building, Goa Street, Ballard Estate, prints start at 2,000 USD.

Will Run for Beer

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The Other Mumbai Marathon
If the upcoming Mumbai Marathon seems a little too hardcore for you, we’ve found a frothier (and more frivolous) alternative, a race where beer replaces Gatorade and formal closing ceremonies are bumped off for frat-house hazing rituals.

Street Starts

The Bombay Hash House Harriers, founded in Malaysia in the 1930s and named after a convoluted WWI story, have been organising these marathons in Mumbai for almost three decades now, where between 40 and 150 members (ranging from the age of 8 to 80 years) gather at a pre-decided starting point on the last Sunday of every month to run an 8 to 10 km race. Past venues have included Malabar Hill, Elephanta Caves and Bandra. The next one, on January 31, will begin at Kandivali.

Will Run for Beer

Now for the good part – the Hash races are sponsored by Kingfisher, and hence, are awash in beer. Keep the brews waiting at the end of the two-hour run in mind, and you’ll definitely reach the finish line. You can nurse your hard-won beers and hang with other runners before closing ceremony or “The Circle”, which organiser Chirag Rupani claims is “the best part.” It is also one of the most bizarre rituals we’ve come across – reader, brace yourself.

Hops, Skip and Jump

After every race, a handful of people – Hashers who did something stupid during the race, participants that helped mark the trail, members celebrating one year with the club – are made to sit on huge blocks of ice, and chug from piss pots filled with beer.
If the experience doesn’t scar you for life, it’ll definitely leave you panting for more.

Getting there: Next race at Kandivali on Sunday, January 31. For exact address and other details, call Chirag Rupani on 9820724721, and visit www.bombayhash.org. To register, show up at the venue a half hour before the race on January, approximately Rs 150 per race, including beer and lunch.

Pruning Time

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Dark chocolate waxing, red wine facial, fig hair repair, caviar de-tan: Tress Talk is like a delicious deli for your body. The only difference is that at this spanking new unisex salon and spa, all the treats are nutritious, and the results, wholesome.

Room Service
Founded by internationally-trained cosmetologist Meetah Thakkar and her two partners, Tress Talk features an exhaustive menu of “meals”, each of which can be sampled in one of the salon’s five neat rooms – Ritual Room for hair treatments (Rs 600 and up); Hands and Feet Bar for manis, pedis, nail art and foot massages (Rs 300 and up); Express Room for waxing, threading, etc (Rs 50 and up); Age Lock Room for age-defying treatments (Rs 500 and up); and Keraskin Room for facials and more ( Rs 2,500 and up).

Outside, in a spherical area, hairstylists snip and prune, curl and rebond, highlight and touch up for Rs 300 and up. Chemical peels are also available for those who don’t believe that nature can nurture. Almost every service, including waxing and facials, extends to men as well.

Piecemeal
Although the expertise and fancy equipment at Tress Talk would warrant it, not all its “rituals” are exorbitantly priced. You can for instance, get a Stress Free Tonic head massage for Rs 200. A shampoo + cut + blow dry will cost you Rs 850, as will the Caviar face and neck de-tan.

Bon appétit!

Getting there: Shop number 3, ground floor, Rajdhoot, 57, opposite Espirit, Linking Road, Khar (W), call 26489642 /43.

Green Trimmings
For more pruning, visit Green Grower’s free one-day plant clinic on January 15. Take in your sick plants and watch them get nursed back to health by horticulturist Anusha Babbar and an expert from Pest Control India. A (green) thumbs up!

Getting there: Green Grower Garden Centre, Mahatma Gandhi Sew Mandir, opposite Bandra Talao, SV Road, 9.30 am to 12.30 pm, call 9322196645, free of cost.

bpb Review: Tease

Cheesy. That’s probably the most accurate (and charitable) way to describe Tease, Hughes Road’s newest coffee shop. The décor, overwhelmingly orange and punctuated by “Tease” T-shirts and faux brick walls, is cheesy; philosophical words of wisdom (Coffee is not a matter of life or death, it is much more important than that) are cheesy; sandwiches, potatoes, pasta are cheesy.

Table Tantrums, Real and Imagined

Also available are soups and quiches, falafel and molten chocolate cake, all of which, the menu assures, are vegetarian (Jain options available as well). We started with the spinach quiche, which was crumbly, overtly eggy and largely tasteless. It was served with suspiciously yellow potato salad that looked and tasted like something you’d get served on a low-cost airline.

Nearby, a baby cheerfully upended a half-finished basket of bread onto his table. One bite of our falafel sandwich – made with grilled toast instead of pita, stuffed with falafel balls with the consistency of densely chewy dates – and we wished we could do the same. The sandwich came with a side of seriously excellent fries, though; crispy, piping hot and coated with salt, they were worth the entire meal.

Hopeful Hints

Maybe it was the dismal expectations set by its precedents, but our Pasta Arrabiata surprised us by how good it was, aromatic, spicy and heartily filling. We wondered why a kitchen capable of producing a relatively sophisticated dish like that faltered so badly with a straightforward sandwich.

Skip Tease

When we asked our waiter that very same question, he seemed just as flummoxed as us. He did however, apologise profusely. The service at Tease is one of its few high points – fast and friendly. Another is its reasonable prices, with our entire meal costing less than Rs 400. But you’ll spend less than that at nearby Sukh Sagar, and a little more at Kobe’s next door, which serves sizzlers that might have seen better days but are still pretty hot.

So our advice to you is this: skip Tease and take your hunger down the block.

Getting There: Tease, Sukh Sagar building, Hughes Road, call 66102345 / 9920765864.

Without Ticket

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Bpb readers’ astrological prediction for January 11, 2010: Your career and love life are on solid footing, making this a good time to take a vacation. And even if they’re both hitting rock bottom, vicarious travel is definitely on the cards.

It’s written in the stars. Grab your passport and head to Cafe Goa tonight, where a bunch of globetrotters will unpack pictures, videos, music and memories from interesting journeys at a traveller’s Show & Tell. If you don’t have a sojourn story of your own, you can just hang in the audience – the event is free and the cheapest way to go around the globe and back.

Traveller’s Checks
What does Budweiser beer have to do with concentration camps? Why should your honeymoon involve Fidel Castro? Are spam mails that promise of “unforgettable holidays” actually worth an open? All of these questions were answered in the last episode of Show and Tell, organised by The Bombay Elektrik Projekt. Participants included eco tourists from Ladakh, a traveller to the Czech beer city of Budvar and a spontaneous Mumbaikar who moved to Ukraine for a six-month teaching project he found in his spam inbox, all revealing treasures they collected and telling trippy tales.

This Could be Rotterdam or Anywhere

Tonight too, is ripe with possibilities of action and adventure. A bus ride from Nepal to Tibet, philanthropic quests set to the sound of a live harp, a journey into the Basque region of Spain and more is on the agenda. All this, served up with chilled beer and Café Goa’s famous Chicken Vindaloo.

Advance Booking
If you wish to book a seat, you’ll need this travel checklist:
1. Register at least half an hour in advance.
2. Carry your travel material on a CD or DVD. Bring music instruments, dance moves, cool curios, language skills or anything else you might have picked up on a holiday.
3. While spontaneity is appreciated, prepare somewhat of a structure so fellow travellers don’t blame their yawns on jet lag.

Bon Voyage, lovelies!

Getting there: Cafe Goa Bistro & Grill, Agnelo House, off St John de Baptist Road, near Mount Mary Steps, Bandra (W), call 9819703271 for more details. Tonight (January 11) from 9.45 pm to 11.30 pm. Visit the Facebook group here.

Sup(p)er Club!

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bREAD

What: Turning Tables, bpb’s underground kitchen club, to attend email http://www.blogger.com/guide@bpbweekend.com – limited seats only! Rs 700 this month, BYOB.

Why: bpb is back with Act II of Turning Tables, this time starring Blue Frog’s Executive Chef Mrigank Singh, who’ll whip up his signature dishes at a subscriber’s home. Also on the menu will be interesting conversation and the chance to hang with new people. Do we hear an encore

When: January 29 at 8:30 pm. Entries shut January 15.

pRIZE

What: The Table, day-long poker workshop by Poker Planet, for venue and other details call 9820062629 or email support@pokerplanet.in, Rs 1,500.

Why: From the fundamentals of poker to advanced strategies, this day-long workshop has a table for every kind of player. Run by the tourney-winning team at Poker Planet, these guys can also hook you up with a subscription to the international Bluff magazine, or a deck of Copag, official playing cards of the World Series of Poker.

When: You don’t want to play blind. January 16, 12 pm to 8 pm.

***

What: Adult snow globes by BoConcept, Palladium Mall, Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel, visit http://www.boconcept.com/, start at Rs 1,400.

Why: Because even though year end festivities have passed, these heavy, magical orbs will spread cheer. One of the many treasures at just-opened BoConcept, an international home and lifestyle store, these share space with black-and-white saucer sets, acid-trip rugs, and three dimensional wall art. Read our full review here.

When: You’re looking at a global warming present.

bEANIE

What: Java Espresso Coffee Co, Surf, ground floor, 3-c, Pali Mala Road, Bandra (W), call 26432112, opens at 9.30 am, free home delivery in the area, Rs 22 onwards.

Why: This charmingly asymmetrical café’s décor might be suffering from a Bagel Shop hangover, but its menu is original. Here, you’ll find cheap munchies (Roast Veggie Panini costs Rs 30) and an unusual selection of hot brews like Ginger Bread Latte and a spicy Mexicano Hot Chocolate. Bandra’s latest secret!

When: You need a new mug shot.

***

What: Quirky head gear from Accessorize, Raghuleela Mall, Vashi and the Palladium, Lower Parel, Rs 295 onwards.

Why: Enormous chiffon flowers and wide-eyed owls jump on clips to hold your hair in place. Neat! The newly-opened UK-based store also stocks adorable Bakerboy hats for bad hair days that can’t be salvaged by flora and fauna.

When: You want to root for the tortoise in your hair.

***
Event Round-Up: 5th Octave goes live at Gadda da Vida, Novotel, Juhu on Jan 8 at 10 pm; NCPA Weekend Festival kicks off, featuring Zakir Hussain and other musicians from Jan 8-19; and read bpb’s review of Asia 7, the newest restaurant at Phoenix Mills.

Take a Bo

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Finally, we found an adult snow globe in Mumbai. One of us Scouters was pining for a white Christmas, and the only way to make it happen, we decided, was to locate a snow globe. We whipped out every sleuthing device in our trusty brown paper bag, lipstick to lie detector, and… lo and behold! We hit pay dirt a couple of days ago, when BoConcept opened its doors in the city. Year-end festivities might have passed, but this store, snow globe and all, is here to spread cheer.

On a Dime

Part of a retail chain in over 50 countries, BoConcept home furniture and lifestyle store at the Palladium is the company’s first Indian branch, and an impressive one at that. Spread over a whopping 7,300 square feet of space, it sprawls across two floors, lazily unraveling its wares. Everything from settees to stationary can be found here, but at a price: BoConcept markets itself worldwide as “affordable luxury”. But with a (really wonderful) light piece costing upwards of Rs 40,000, the definition of affordable begins to get a little murky.

The Whole Kit and Caboodle

Some of their best stock, however, falls in the lifestyle category: Odd, stand-alone bric-a-brac that you can scatter through your home without breaking the bank. Our favorites were of course the snow globes, heavy and magically beautiful (Rs 1,400). Also check out black and white graphic cups with saucers (Rs 500), a train of 12 metal candleholders bound together by fluid links (Rs 2,800), and three dimensional alphabet wall art (Rs 1,500).

Rug Brats

Serious shoppers will find pleasure in lush love seats, acid-trip rugs, , the clever little pouf that opens up into a day bed (Rs 30,000). We particularly lusted after Futuna Glistening Lights, an arrangement of slim, glassy lamps that trail from the ceiling like fluid tears (Rs 40,000). To cry for!

Here’s to lighting up your home, even if it isn’t the holiday season.

Getting there: BoConcept, Palladium Mall, Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel, visit www.boconcept.com, start at Rs 500.

bpb Review: Asia 7

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“If we have goofed up, please do let us know, thus getting it out of your system” Asia 7, Phoenix Mills’ newest restaurant, endearingly requests in its menu introduction along with the promise that “we will surely get it out of ours.” And the “goof ups” are several: no liquor license, no credit card acceptance, corn and water chestnut dumplings that seem bound together by a mysterious, gummy substance, Schezuan sauce that tastes like ketchup. But there are also pleasures, making this a good, solid lunch option.

Come One, Come Mall
With a couple of outposts in Delhi, Asia 7 is India’s own P.F. Chang’s, the quintessential upscale mall Chinese restaurant, complete with clichéd bamboo paneling, over-bright red lamps, oriental upholstery and South Asian pop music. The food, however, is surprisingly more adventurous. Asia 7 serves cuisines from seven countries across the continent, including China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Burma, Indonesia and Vietnam. Our meal began with soothing green tea, followed by the above-mentioned dumplings and a much better Chicken Satay. Miso soup was pleasantly soothing, piquant with flavor and silky strands of tofu.

The stand-out of our meal was the vegetable Bibimbap, a Korean medley of intensely flavored mushrooms, sprouts, peppers, onions and zucchini heaped on a bed of sticky rice. Alternating between crunchy and soft, peppery and mild, it kept us engaged for a good long time. Also fun was the Japanese Ebi Tempura - prawns dunked in batter, deep fried, and served with their tails intact.

Sugar Mamas
The dessert menu was short, unappealing enough to skip entirely. Feeling righteous about resisting the calories we almost invariably pile on at the end of our meals (reader, chocolate is our kryptonite), we walked out with a light step into the burgeoning shops at Palladium, convinced that our restraint at the lunch table deserved an extra hour of retail therapy.

Getting there: Asia 7, Palladium Mall, Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel, call 43473901, approximately Rs 1,000 for a meal for two.

Check, 1 2 3

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The spotlight falls on an empty stage. On the edge, a solo microphone waits. You walk to the centre, an empty orchestra in your stomach, an itchy feeling in your throat. All eyes are on you. You can barely hold a note, but the song has your name on it. Can you belt it out without being booed, you wonder?

If you suffer from Pre-Karaoke Anxiety Syndrome (we made up the name, but the condition does exist!) visit www.singchana.com to loosen your vocal chords. This new karaoke gaming website allows you to pick from 90-odd tracks, Hindi and English, and sing your heart out. The audience is optional.

Plug Ins
The Sing Chana website is extremely user-friendly, even for cyber-klutzes. All you have to do is sign in, plug in your computer mike, select a song, and start crooning. You will be scored based on your performance, and if you’re good, you might even make it to the Star Singers page.

Mouthing Off
While Sing Chana accommodates pretty much all music categories, not every genre is robust. The rock track list for instance, has only five songs, including Numb by Linkin’ Park and No Woman No Cry by Bob Marley. Predictably, pop and Bollywood are the most populated. But founders Hitesh and Vikram Mehta are working on filling the long pauses. “We’re constantly adding diverse, new songs to the list. Soon, even your grandmother will be able to karaoke to her favourite devotional song!” says Hitesh. Also in the pipeline is a multi-player feature, which promises to make the sing-along competing experience more fun.

What’s really entertaining (read hilarious) though, is listening to user renditions of each song. That does not mean that every song you sing will get archived for public listening. “There are settings that allow you to keep your recorded masterpieces private,” assures Hitesh. So, go on, and sing like nobody’s watching.

Getting there: Visit www.singchana.com, registration free.