We, the secret scouters-of-cool, bring you your Mumbai weekend in a brown paper bag. Subscribe below to get a FREE weekend guide in your inbox every Friday. For our New York guide, visit bpbnyweekend.blogspot.com.
Frilly frocks and long socks get the boot as film stylist Sohaya and Renuka brings flower to the child with Baccha Party’s fluid skirts, halter tops and kurtas. To order, call 9820121632. For an organic fix, turn to Mitrah (at O.M.O, Bandra) who’ll tie and dye your kids in cool cottons. We heart their range of psychedelic bibs. Designs and price list available on their website.
Ready, Set, Dough
A set of two chocolate cupcakes, a jar full of icing and a fistful of rainbow sprinkles – these Ice your Own Cupcake kits originally designed for children are guaranteed to be a hit with grown ups as well. Babycakes’ new venture, these kits are the yummiest way to go back in time this Children’s Day. For Rs 80, to order (minimum of 6) call 9820120098.
Once Upon a Time…
At Indus – the Bookstore (Grand Hyatt, Kalina), kids get to star in their own happily ever after tales. Personalised story books allow them to play any character they want, from heroic kings and dainty princesses to mustachioed goons and wise fairy godmothers! And if Indus’ 100-odd story templates don’t work, you can get the completely customised ones too. For ages 5 to 10, start at Rs 300.
Sunday School
Get on a boat this Sunday, and you can help a child sail through school. Book a seat (Rs 3,000) on board Aquasail’s yacht, the proceeds of which will go towards Concern India’s education initiative for street kids. Call 9986781826 for details.
The untimely drizzle wouldn’t have caught you off guard if you had one of these super-stylish sun-and-shower umbrellas by Blush. Made out of 100% cotton Chikan fabric from Lucknow and waterproofed, these work perfectly as sun umbrellas and can weather stormy showers too. Now you know better, and can order your own (Rs 850 per piece). Just so you have all your bases covered.
Scouting around, we discovered that the quaint bungalow which houses the new Seasons Furnishings outlet excited us much more than the store’s actual stock. Hitting all the current trends, the furnishings - upholstery, wall paper, bed linen - displayed was pleasant enough, but nothing to write home about. A little more digging however, unearthed this very stylish monsoon umbrella holder, available by order at the store and eerily fitting for currently overcast skies.
Fahrenheit 21 is, quite literally, the coolest new kid on the block. Mumbai’s first ice bar, it’s slated to open in Andheri only later this week, but we talked to co-owner Alok Purohit and gathered some cold hard facts: the bar is spread over little more than 800 square feet, with interiors made completely of ice. Its temperature, as the name suggests, is constantly maintained at below freezing. Along with drinks, the menu will also feature warm food (wonder how that would fare in the sub-zero climes), and a doorman who allows only 45 people in at a time.
We recently visited the Absolut Ice Bar in Stockholm which, with its ghostly light and eerie walls, reminded us of Dr Freeze and made us feel like we’d strayed right into a Batman comic. If Fahrenheit 21 is a chip off this old ice block, it’s definitely going to be worth the frost bite and frumpy clothes (they swath you in shapeless, furry parkas before you enter). (Brrr)ing it on!
Look out for the full bpb review this weekend.
Ciao, ’Bella
And if you don’t feel like leaving your cozy home, here’s a delish cocktail recipe, straight from Valhalla’s stellar bar to yours. Salud!
Isabella
45 ml Bacardi Rum 40 ml apple juice 20 ml grape juice 4 California grapes 6 mint leaves
Mix in all the ingredients, stir well, and add over crushed ice. Serve in an old fashioned glass.
Once upon a time in a leafy city suburb, three story tellers, also known as Dastangos, came with bags full of tales – dramatic epics, happy capers, and farfetched yarns. They learned that although the rest of the city was too busy to indulge their lost and ancient art of Urdu storytelling, Bandra and its creative subjects would always make room for a good tale. And so it was decided. At the upcoming Celebrate Bandra fest, Mahmood Farooqui, assisted by his two Shahs of Blah, would perform stories old and new, jugglers and tricksters helping their narratives come alive.
Dastangoi, the art of relating and simultaneously composing long stories, has existed in India for centuries. And over the last four years, Mahmood and his crew have taken this speech-and-spectacle act to a host of Indian cities, Pakistan and the US. Catch them in action on November 15 from 7 pm to 9 pm.
Getting there: Pioneer Hall, St John Baptist Road, Bandra (W).
Trading Tales
You too can take a page out of the Dastan book and become a story teller. If you have novels that have crossed their shelf life, donate them for a cause. All you have to do is give in your old books before the 14th of this month (find your drop-off centre here) and visit Café Goa on the 17th, where they will be sold, the proceeds of which go to one of Celebrate Bandra’s causes. Remember to bring along your favourite music, which you can play for the crowd. Starts on November 17 at 8 pm and climaxes the next day at 12 am.
Getting there: Café Goa, Khadeshwari Mandir Marg, Off St John Baptist Road, Bandra (W).
bpb contest: Take a shot - be the first to email us about your favourite shot (guide@bpbweekend.com) and a pair of super funky shot glasses from Bliss are yours.
bEGIN
What: Second Helping gets experts to answer your culinary queries, email secondhelping@bpbweekend.com, free service exclusively for bpb subscribers.
Why: bpb brings together Mumbai’s best – Valhalla’s bartending team; Kshama Prabhu from The Tasting Room; InterContinental Marine Drive's Paul Kinny; East's owner, Nachiket Shetye; and Indigo's pastry chef Ajinkya Saundankar; (read their bios here) - to help out in your kitchen. From setting your cocktails on fire to revealing the secret uses of pine nuts, they’ll answer your quirkiest gastronomical questions.
When: You want too many cooks to help with your broth. On until January 1.
***
What: Cutlery couture, Manish Arora for Good Earth, Raghuvanshi Mills, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, call 24951954, price on request.
Why: After stamping his psychedelic prints on everything from shoes to lipstick, fashion’s most colourful figure is all set to gatecrash your dinner party. And if his earlier designs are anything to go by, Manish Arora’s new range of bone china cutlery will be the best thing since sliced bread.
When: You want a new Fish (to) Fry. Launches Wednesday, November 11.
pARTAKE
What: Wine and beer tasting room and store, Santé, Chawla House, 60/62 Woodhouse Road, Colaba, call 64509779, starts at Rs 50 per tasting (includes five 20 ml wines).
Why: Because of all the Mumbai outposts, the new Colaba branch is the only one that offers wine tastings from domestic and international lists (currently featuring offerings from France, Chile and South Africa) that change every week. Coming soon: a cozy booth where you can enjoy a bottle of wine you bought, fresh off the rack.
When: You want a room with a brew.
***
What: Thai catering by Lotus Blossom, call 9967624034, starts at Rs 400 per person for a minimum of 10 people.
Why: Radhika’s delicate lotus fruit appetizers, sweet peanut salad and spicy basil prawn are guaranteed to float your boat.
When: You’re trying to curry favours.
bITTERSWEET
What: Liqueur cupcakes by Venial Sin, call Michelle 9867663256, Rs 45 a piece.
Why: The man behind the desserts at Da Vinci and Thai Ban is spiking his cupcakes with Amaretto and Amarula, cointreau and Kahlua, and a slew of other delicious liqueurs. His rich chocolate frosting is the icing on the cake.
You’d hardly expect paper, glue and banana fibre to turn into something so chic. Paper chandeliers and lamps are the new heavyweights on the light circuit, and the best buzz-worthy buy for your home. We spied these at Bliss, a newly opened lifestyle store at Versova that also stocks clothes by designers like Nachiket Barve and Lina Tipnis, and accessories by Soul of Silver, Pandora’s Pitara and Stoffa.
These eco-friendly floor lamps have been designed by Jenny Pinto, who makes the material in her Bangalore studio out of long silky fibers from banana tree trunks, and styles it to create a dance of shadows and sensuality. Do we see flash bulbs?
Wax Couture Also putting the chic after eco are Crawford Market’s 100% bees wax candles. None of that overwhelmingly flavoured berry stuff; just the subtle scent of honey and lemon grass, and hints of natural colour. Plus, these candles can wax eloquent for 40 hours, and won’t go off under the fan. You can sniff them out at Contemporary Arts and Crafts (Napeansea Road), Attic (Khar), Dhoop (Khar), Mobius Strip (Bandra), Tribal Route (Andheri), 1BHK (Kamla Mills, Lower Parel). And if you need another reason to schedule a hot pick-up today, bpb subscribers take 10% off all Crawford Market candles until November 15th.
Plus, the weekend’s almost here – so go ahead and lighten up!
So this is where they keep all the light: that’s the first thought we had as we entered the brand new and cheerily sunny Bespoke Café, tucked away into a corner of the otherwise windowless, oppressively opulent Palladium at Phoenix Mills. But the pretty view – freshly-graphitised glimpses of Tulsi Pipe Road looked even more colourful through the restaurant’s stain glass windows – is not all Bespoke has to offer.
Fancy Brews
Sink into a buttery leather chair (and we mean that literally – the seats are so plush that one of us Secret Scouters could barely see over the table) and pick through the moderate non-alcoholic beverage menu made up of the usual suspects - coffee from Kenya, Columbia and Malabar; a range of herbal teas; and pathetically watered-down hot chocolate – or move on to the more interesting wine list. A number of international labels are featured here, including a Cabernet Sauvignon from the Colchagua Valley in Chile that we especially liked.
Time for a Break(fast)
The food menu at Bespoke seems designed for shoppers taking a break and the corporates that work around Lower Parel. Averaging Rs 100 a dish, the all-day breakfast is a good bet (although they don’t open until 11 am), as is the creamy spinach dip, perfectly accompanied by crunchy strips of lavash. We also enjoyed the black bean burger, garnished with tomatoes and what has become a must-add on hip menus across the city: wasabi mayo. Finish off with a peanut butter torte, whose sugar boost will make the prospect of returning to the crazy fray of Phoenix Mills a little more bearable.
Coffee and Tees
Bespoke is part of The Collective, a high-end men’s chain that dominates one side of the Palladium, and a clever addition to the luxurious shopping experience the store aims to provide (a Jean Claude Biguine salon and spa is also housed here). Lulled by the wine and food, we were easily tempted by hard-to-find inventory of John Varvatos and Rock and Republic, as well as an utterly irresistible (and at Rs 6,000 for a razor, ridiculously expensive) line of products from Art of Shaving.
Just as, we suspect, was intended by the crafty cats at Collective. So when you find yourself standing at the cash counter, basking in the afterglow of a nice Australian red and handing over your credit card for a pair of Ferragamos that you don’t need, just remember this: you had been warned.
Bait? Bread? Breakfast? That’s what you’ll be calling your feet if you check them in for a pedicure at the newly opened Bambooo Tree – All Day Spaa in Bandra. If you can get past the numerology-influenced sign board and the “women’s only” pamphlet, this tiny spa has a lot to offer. The best is the controversial Doctor Fish pedicure (Rs 550 for 45 minutes). Here, a shoal of toothless Garra Rufa fish imported all the way from Turkey nibble dead skin off your feet, making them shiny and new. Though many around the world swear by this treatment, several countries have given it the boot owing to hygiene and heath issues.
The two spa rooms are not plush but yet enticing, and house masseuses that can cater to your every knead. You’ll find a range of different treatments including Exotic Candle, Holistic Bamboo and Power Yoga massages, which at Rs 2,000 and up, are a little pricey. Hair, skin and nail treatments are also available.
Getting there: 752 Merchant House, in the lane opposite Bagel Shop, New Kantwadi Road, Bandra (W), call 32221861 / 9930142067.
Other Fish to Fry
For guys (or girls with an aversion to feet-feasting beasts), Toni and Guy has just opened its second Mumbai outpost – this one’s in Colaba – complete with unisex hair, skin and beauty treatments (they plan to get their pedicure booths up and running by next week). Stop by for a pruning by head stylist Rupal Thakkar, who’s been wielding her magic scissors for over 15 years.
Act I It will be bottoms (and curtains) up at the Sula Vineyard Friday evening, where the Nashik estate will play host to the Class of ’84. Buy your ticket to this awesome play, drive out to the rolling hills and drink it all in – a starry night sky, a Greek amphitheatre, and playwright Rahul Da Cunha’s theatre crew, including Rajit Kapur and Shernaz Patel, getting high on nostalgia.
Act II Theatrics will be followed up by painting under the stars, sipping on wine straight from vineyards and feasting on yummy treats from Little Italy and Kareem’s.
Act III If you’re too lazy (or inebriated) to drive home, we suggest you make a night of it. Beyond, the super luxurious accommodation on the Sula estate is booked out for the next three months, but the nearby affordable Ginger Hotel is a great option. Home Productions If you can’t escape the city this weekend, we insist you walk through the Mumbai Wine Tasting festival at the Radio Club pier, held on November 7 and 8 between 11 am and 10 pm. Accompanying the extensive wine list – representatives from York, Sula, Zampa and other wineries will be present – will be a barbeque cook out, docked speed boats and the colourful personalities that invariably populate such events.
Le Fin
Getting there: Sula Vineyards, Nashik.Call 09860190017. Tickets are available on Bookmyshow.com / The Pier, Bombay Presidency Radio Club, Apollo Bunder, Colaba. For passes, email info@mumbaiwinefest.in, call 9820097565
bpb BREAKFAST: Monday to Thursday, get your morning hit (or miss) of Mumbai with bpb Breakfast, where the city’s catch of the day (restaurant, store, service) comes to you in a daily email. Click here to subscribe.
bpb FREEBIE: Subscribers get a hot discount on Crawford Market 100% bees wax, honey scented candles available at high-end stores across the city. For this and other freebies, as well as a weekend guide in your inbox every Friday, enter your email in the subscription box.
Bpb CONTEST: What do you want your Halloween pumpkin to turn into at midnight? Send in your answer to guide@bpbweekend.com, and the most creative ones will win a free pass to the October 31 Halloween party at Bonobo or the bash at East.
bURN
What: bpb and East present Pan-Asian Aphrodisiac Tasting and Menu at East, Kemp’s Corner, Rs 650 for vegetarians and Rs 850 for non vegetarians, includes a pint of beer or a glass of wine.
Why: bpb’s first event! Ex-Nobu chef and owner of East, Nachiket Shetye skips the clichéd chocolate and oysters to bring you a truly sensuous experience. The tingle of galangal, musky scent of sweet mustard, and soft slide of lobster is bound to arouse the most stubborn senses. Read the menu here.
When: You want to feast on inter-courses. Tasting on November 11 at 8.30 pm. To sign up, email guide@bpbweekend.com or call 9821468671.
***
pACK
What: Hand-painted shopping bags from Bootika, call Shruti on 9892059361 or view the Facebook page here, start at Rs 650.
Why: Sporting intricately sketched taxi meters, pensive bulls and half-drunk glasses of cutting chai, these organic cotton shopping bags are the perfect reason to go green.
When: It’s time to up your market value.
***
What: Rent-a-bed, Details, near Bombay House, Homi Modi Street, Fort, call 22043732, starts at Rs 200.
Why: Behind the polished surfaces of this swish home store lives a jumble of furniture: Burma teak cupboards, ancient headboards and even a rare piano. These, you can rent for a song – Ms. Anita will have them restored and delivered right to your doorstep. They lease office furniture as well.
When: You don’t want to be chained to your desk.
bUDDY
What: Personalised golf balls, Zaverchand Sports, 3rd Floor, Dena Bank building, Horniman Circle, Fort, call 9819007344, Rs 3,000 for a dozen.
Why: Send these guys a pattern, colour or inscription, and they’ll create a unique set of golf balls just for you. Perfect for gifting.
When: You want to bird(ie) watch.
***
What: Super Slow workout, Bajaj Arcade, Union Park, Khar (W), call 9833923826, Rs 350 per session.
Why: Unlike other trainers hopped up on steroids, Rustom Dalal likes to take it nice and slow. With 3 twenty minute weight-training sessions a week, these unhurried quickies focus on strength training, muscle building and bone density improvement.
When: You want to switch to (a) snail male.
Event Round Up: Halloween parties on October 31 night at Valhalla (Churchgate), Hard Rock Café (Worli) and HQ’s (Colaba); Curio Cottage opens in Khar; Chai & Why at Prithvi Theatre on Nov 1 at 11 am where TIFR expert discusses Rocket Science and Ketchup Economics in Finance.
So we sailed on to the sun. / Till we found a sea of green. / And we lived beneath the waves. / In our yellow submarine.
And not once did we want to come up for air. Yellow Tree Café, Bandra’s newest picture-perfect eatery, managed to lock us in for the better part of the evening, without any resistance. And the sunny space, accented with rainbow-coloured graphics from a book called Happiness, ensured that while we needed to borrow John, Paul, George and Ringo’s tune, we didn’t require their psychedelics.
Fleet-ing Faux Pas
At first glance, the café makes a big splash, but the charm ebbs a little due to the sloppy service. Not only was the attending crew unable to help with recommendations, but they also got our order wrong. Twice. It was only after they swapped iced teas with the hot lemon versions, and a wrongly-served sandwich was replaced by a crepe, that the happy soundtrack in our heads re-started.
Knots and Grosses
We sailed through our cocktails – a Watermelon Caprioska and Mint Mojito – carefully priced, and recklessly potent. Our meal started off with a strictly average potato leek soup (Rs 150), and an addictive spicy hummus with pita bread (Rs 175). Main course of asparagus crepe with caramelised onions in a cheesy gravy (Rs 225) and basil ravioli with sun-dried tomatoes and olives in a creamy pesto sauce (Rs 255), were as delicious on the tongue as they were on paper. A light, creamy Crème Brule with a wafer-thin crisp top turned out to be the dessert heavy weight, and a perfect anchor to our meal.
Port Dine
Later, while we toured the first floor dining area which had a more restaurant-like feel than the airy ground floor café and the second floor banquet hall, we were informed they were launching Saturday breakfast and Sunday brunch soon.
We hope that’s more than just a sailor’s promise.
Getting there: Yellow Tree Café, 33rd and Ambedkar Road junction, Bandra (W). Call 65287800. Open from 11 am to 12.30 am.
At Brown Paper Bag, we review restaurants anonymously, and pay for our own meals.
Bpb Freebie: Subscribers get one session of power yoga or body sculpting free with every ten! Call Shilpa at 9820053943.
Bpb Contest: U2 scrambled - 10 bpb subscribers get a FREE breakfast at Gostana on Oct 26 at 9 am, when the café will be showing the U2 concert live from LA. To get on the list, email guide@bpbweekend.com. First come, first serve!
Also, every week this October, bpb is giving away five FREE memberships to BagSutra.com, India’s first luxury handbag rental service. All you have to do to win access to a hot designer bag for a week is tell us about the sneakiest thing you’ve ever carried in your handbag. To win, send in your answers to guide@bpbweekend.com . See last week’s winning entries here.
bITE
What: Chinese box lunch delivery, Zenzi Mills, Lower Parel, call 43455455, starts at Rs 275 including a soft drink; Don Giovanni reopens at Juhu Tara Road, near Prithvi Theatre, call 67426770.
Why: Our favourite foodsters at Zenzi will turn dabbawallas next week, delivering their delicious China boxes all over Lower Parel. Further North, Italian food father Don Giovanni returns to its original neighbourhood, armed with just-installed wood fire ovens and charcoal grills.
When: You want to chew on the new.
***
What: Exotic liqueurs by the litre, Barwings Hospitality, call 9773133220, Rs 600 and up.
Why: Locked up in his lab, an internationally renowned bartender is mixing fruits, herbs, nuts, spices and cream into the most deliciously textured liqueurs. Starting next week, you can call him for coffee, cream and orange blends. Coming soon: cinnamon and hazelnut.
Why: Because this jewellery designer strings antique gold and silver chains together with crystals to create some of the fiercest, most eye-catching neck pieces we’ve seen in a long time. She customises as well.
When: You enjoy arty-chokes.
***
What: Bridge lessons, call Arvind Vaidya at 9322305064, Rs 3,000 per person for 12 sessions.
Why: Round up a group of four or more, pick your partner, and call this national level player over – he’s guaranteed to get your house (of cards) in order. Novices welcome!
When: You don’t have a good partner, so need a good hand.
Why: From owls to electric poles, doe-eyed ladies to bare-branched trees, Shubert will customise sneakers with graphics best suited to your personality.
Last week, a pricey Mumbai store decided to stop milling over the gloss and start playing to the gallery. A welcome development, even if it was just for a month. Australian women’s fashion brand Forever New moved piles of style from its Phoenix Mills store to an empty art gallery in Bandra, slashed its prices by 70%, and alerted hoards of regulars. We went en masse, but left with class - a formal high-waisted grey jersey skirt with slanting pockets (Rs 700), made even more delicious by the fact that some unsuspecting shopper once paid Rs 2,400 for it. The next day – when new shipment was expected – we returned for more goodies.
What to SkirtWhen you get to the sale, head straight to the rack of translucent white blouses and airy pastel kurta tops, and stop to check out the summer shorts on your way there. If you are migrating out of Mumbai for the winter, the trench jackets (Rs 1,500 and up after discount) are a good buy. Stay away from the shapeless knits, random assortment of shoes and export quality skirts that sport ‘made in India’ labels. Not a lot of small sizes are left, and the 30% off rack, though interesting, still doesn't feel worth it. The shelves are updated every week, so make sure you don’t buy into Forever New’s old stock. On for the next 15 days. Getting there: 7 Days Art Gallery, opposite Patwardhan Park, off Linking Road, Bandra (W). Forever New: Level 1, High Street Phoenix, Phoenix Mills Compound, 462 Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel. Call: 40040289
Check out our new website at www.bpbweekend.com! According to restaurateur brothers Dino and NicoloMorea, The Elbo Room, which opened in early September, is Mumbai’s first singles bar, designed to be intimate enough that you can’t help but rub shoulders with fellow drinkers and potential partners. But when we visited on a Diwali weekend afternoon for their newly launched lunch hour, the place was empty. We were the only people there, arms free to flail about to the beats of How Bizarre, pumped through formidable speakers into the English-pub style setting.
Bandra’s Inn On a better day, The Elbo Room could be Bandra’s answer to Woodside Inn. The international beers, unusual music (we hadn’t heard Malibu by Courtney Love’s awesome-but-forgotten band Hole since high school) , non-stuffy food and an unassuming vibe earned bpb’s stamp of approval right away. The steep price of the drinks, though, weighed down slightly on the casual feel.
The afternoon we visited, confusion reigned supreme over whether the kitchen was serving lunch. After much waffling, we were told we couldn’t order the Bento Boxes or Bangkok Salad (the most exciting dishes on the menu), but were offered Cheesy Garlic Bread, chicken tacos and nachos on the house. The insipid nachos with a side of baked beans and three specks of cheese were a sorry excuse for Mexican food, but the other two fared well. The drinks menu, with its varied choice of cocktails, beers and wines, didn’t disappoint either.
For main course, we ordered the Margherita pizza that was too bready, and a spicy-tangy pomodoro pasta which turned out to be the best choice of the afternoon.
Teething Troubles
But a month into its existence, there are still a number of teething problems that The Elbo Room has to tackle. The strange blinking strobe light-like situation in the bathroom, for instance. Or the fact that they have tap beer on the menu, but can’t serve it yet.
Gay’s Anatomy But by the time we finished, we were lulled into a happy haze that more than made up for these short-comings. The combination of chilled Stellas, sunlight and Sting’s dreamy vocals reminded us of a drowsy Sunday spent reading in bed, while propped up on our elbows. Not perhaps the kind of room it was meant to be, but one that worked for us.
Check out our new website at www.bpbweekend.com!
bpb FREEBIE: Crafty shopping deal from Dhoop, exclusively for subscribers. For this and other discounts, as well as a FREE weekend guide in your inbox every Friday, enter your email in the subscription box.
bpb Contest: Every week this October, bpb is giving away five FREE memberships to BagSutra.com, India’s first luxury handbag rental service. All you have to do to win access to a hot designer bag for a week is tell us about the sneakiest thing you’ve ever carried in your handbag. To win, send in your answers to guide@bpbweekend.com . See last week’s winning entries here.
bRICK
What: Yellow Tree Café, Ambedkar Road, next to Sparkle, Bandra (W).
Why: Because it’s shiny, happy and opening this weekend! We just hope that the soups, salads and cocktails on the menu are as refreshing as the interiors, complete with white-washed walls and sea-green windows. Look out for the bpb review on Monday.
When: You want a picture perfect meal. Say “trees”!
***
What: Individual and group Mixed Martial Arts classes by Full Contact Entertainment, call Prashant on 9821133980, starts at Rs 3,000 a month.
Why: The man who gave Mumbai its first fight night now wants to tackle you. Learn mixed martial arts moves from Prashant and his team, who formerly saved their expertise exclusively for national fighters.
When: You need to strengthen your contacts.
pEDDLE
What: Make Your Own Bath Salts, The Nature’s Co, Palladium, Phoenix Mills Compound, 2nd floor, Lower Parel, call 32211771 or visit their website here, Rs 175 a test tube.
Why: Because playing mad scientist with the pretty, subtly scented bath salts at this new beauty store – you get to pick favorites and bottle them into test tubes – is almost as fun as actually using them. We particularly love the tangerine and cinnamon fragrances.
When: You want to be worthy of a You-Reek-Ah! Go before October 19, and get a complimentary facial and health drink.
***
What: Wrought iron miniature automobiles, Earth, Inorbit, R City and Phoenix Mills Malls, call 26349074, starts at Rs 1,250.
Why: Because these mini auto rickshaws and bicycles, replicated down to fully functional chains and steering wheels, are a perfect melding of childhood whimsy and adult aesthetics. If you want to go all out, bag the life-size Harley Davidson, constructed entirely from wood.
When: You want to toy with the past.
bUTTONS
What: Coming Out of the Closet, call Ashmi Bhansali at 9820009008, starts at Rs 2,000.
Why: bpb’s newest invention, this service will transform your wardrobe. Take your old clothes, mum’s sarees and dad’s retro ties to design wizard Ashmi (you’ll find her stuff at Mogra and Oak Tree), and she’ll piece them into a whole new ensemble.
Even if you didn’t get invited, you can still be part of the haute couture scene. bpb tells you how:French Fantasies
What: Made-to-order haute French cuisine at Napeansea Road, call 9821172620, Rs 400 and up.
Why: Le Cordon Bleu-return Niloufer Mistry whips up ratatouille, roulades, crepes and wine gravies, right here in Mumbai. How do you say yummy in French?
When: You want to eat a poutful of delish.
Be a Buyer
What: Indus – the Bookstore, Grand Hyatt, Off Western Express Highway Santacruz (E), call 66761234.
Why: Located smack-dab in the middle of Couture Week's venue, Indus stocks rare, fashionable editions. They may be crafted from paper instead of expensive fabric, but these, you can afford.
When: You want to skirt around the (t)issue.
Bevy of Beauties
What: Mumbai Martini Beauty Pageant, CNNGo.com, read it here.
Why: CNN’s hip new Mumbai microsite lines up the best bar-candy in the city, for your viewing (and tasting) pleasure.
When: You want to score the hottest item in the room.
Walk the (Cat)Walk
What: Strut on Stilts lessons, call Shilpa at 9833103710 for individual/group classes, Rs 3,300 onwards.
Why: Perfect for Couture Week, this pole dancing expert’s Strut on Stilts class teaches balance and postural training, complete with stiletto stalks and catwalk moves that will leave you feeling sexy, strong and confident. Bonus: Leaner legs.
When: You want to get (a)head over heels.
Get the Skinny
What: Made-to-order plain and chocolate chip granola bars and low-fat yogurt cakes, call Amrita Bhoolabhai at 9820633336, Rs 360 for ½ kg.
Why: Drop the extra pounds with Amrita’s fresh, crunchy granola, which finally made us stop lusting after the cheesecake at our corner bakery. She also makes organic, low fat cakes and cookies.
If you want to spend a cool Rs 3,000 on dinner for two, there are better places to do it at than Valhalla. That was our concluding thought after a recent trial of the “Fire n Light” menu at the Eros restobar, launched earlier this month in honor of the upcoming holiday.
Cheers to… who?
We got there at 8:30 pm on a Friday night – a little early, but the place was almost deserted except for a couple more diners and a bevy of wait staff. It reminded us why we love Valhalla for post-dinner partying, but wouldn’t consider it for a meal (one Saturday, we were the only guests present for lunch).
And the drama of our dinner only seemed to accentuate how dead the place was. We started with a couple of flaming cocktails. The Flaming Viper (Rs 750), featuring Baileys, Kahlua and Blue Curacao was served alongside a huge dollop of theatrics, where the bartender stacked at least four different types of glasses on top of each other before lighting a flame. And watching, we were afraid to breathe. It was delicious, creamy, and totally worth the fright. The Ferrari (Rs 600), another flaming cocktail, was tamer, and less tasty. (Our favorite drink is still the Isabella, Valhalla’s delicious twist on the Caprioska, featuring grapes instead of lemons).
Hey, My Food’s on Fire!
The plum tomato and goat cheese tart (Rs 325) appetizer was perfect – creamy, crusty and deliciously ripe. The entrée of asparagus risotto with cognac (Rs 495) was beautifully presented, but would have tasted better without the bitter flambé; as we maneuvered our forks around acrid, alcohol-soaked grains of rice, we wondered at the kitchen’s inclination to unnecessarily set things on fire.
Lighting up the Night
But it was the dessert that made our evening, possibly even our entire week. The chocolate fondant (Rs 400) was sinfully delicious, and served with a side of Grand Marnier ice cream on a biscuit crust that tasted like Orange Cream cookies from fifth grade. Darkly decadent pleasure melding with a sunny childhood treat – surprising, and absolutely sensational.
All in all, the food at Valhalla is good, sometimes even great. But to justify the astronomical prices, the place needs to become a more happening dinner destination, with more diners. Sitting in the large, echoing dining hall, dominated by an empty throne and surrounded by equally empty tables, can ruin even the most persistent appetites.
So we suggest that you brave the long-lines-guest-list-bouncer nonsense and visit Valhalla post-dinner – but remember to save room for dessert.
Getting There: Eros Building, 1st Floor, Churchgate, call 67353535.
As Couture Week sashays into Mumbai, bpb digs through its style files to line-up the coolest, under-the-radar designers we wish would be in the spotlight.
Ladies and Their Linen
What: Minimalist linen wear, Kishmish Design Studio, Colaba, call 9820031361, Rs 2,500 for a cowl-neck dress. Why: Because Nikki Kalia and her partner‘s collection of deceptively simple designs in an airy palette of whites, creams and pale blues is like a bit of beach for your closet. You’ll find Kishmish offerings at Melange, Ensemble and more, but these designers also run a secret studio, where they’ll create customised pieces. When: You want to lay it on the line(n).
Recycling Rani
What: Diana’s recycled jewelry, call 9987354466, Rs 1,000 onwards. Why: Diana Linda turns old magazine pages into hip papier maché bangles, earrings and necklaces. She retails at super pricey stores like Bombay Electric and Attic, but we bring you a direct line to her, minus the mark ups. When: You want to see waste turned into wonder.
Smoking Hot Designer
What: Made-to-order hemp pants for men and women, call Sarita on 9220520467, price on request. Why: This designer-to-watch-out-for makes the coolest 3/4ths out of hemp, but remember, with great pants comes great patience; she has to order the banned fabric all the way from Nepal. When: You like your pants smoking hot.
Moodiest Shoe Smith
What: Solid coloured pumps and custom designed shoes, street store in tiny lane opposite Globus, next to Le Bijou, Hill Road, Bandra (W), Rs 300 onwards. Why: Bright coloured pumps, peep toes and wedges startle the air at this non-descript street store. If he’s in a good mood, ‘Musalman Uncle’ will also copy a design for you out of a magazine. But be prepared for it to get mass produced after. When: You need your weekend fix of faux fashion.
Lean, Mean, Green Team
What: Indigreen organic hand-painted Bollywood Poster bags and T-Shirts, click here to order. Why: A fashion designer, environmental activist, and movie poster painter collaborate to bring you bags and tees that will cause everyone around you to see green. When: You need to bag your organic-fix.
He wasn't fast, and we were furious. Just for the first hour, that is. Given the cruel October sun, waiting an hour for David Coulthard to show up at the firing of the engines, an exclusive precursor event to the Redbull Speed Link today (October 10), was harrowing. To say the least. But when the Formula One ace driver (finally!) showed up, it was awesome! And once the engines were fired, we’d forgotten all about the mid-day heat. Plus, the Red Bull girls and their infinite supply of energising liquid did their bit to cool the disgruntled crowd.
bpb Reader Insight
A Brown Paper Bag reader, also at the event, who thought DC was “cool - a little cocky for some people's liking, but still cool”, wrote in to say that he asked the race car driver a question on behalf of bpb.
K.A (Name withheld to protect privacy): DC, the note in the media kit said this was a Toro Rosso F1 car (Red Bull Racing's sister team) but everyone else has been saying it’s a Red Bull Racing Car. Which is it?
DC: I'm not a historian mate! But its one of the older ones, from 2-3 years ago. (Checks with the chief mechanic)..yeah it’s actually the first car I ever drove for Red Bull (about four years ago). We've had to add some fans to the radiators because of the heat. This adds a ton of weight to the car, so we could never use this in a race. We can't be bringing this season's car out here. The Mumbai roads would destroy it!
Lap it Up!
Tomorrow (October 11) at 2 pm, David Coulthard will drive the Red Bull Racing Car down the Bandra–Worli Sea Link, adding a zippy cool to the city’s newest heavyweight bridge. The event is open to the public so we hope to see you there! Have a racy weekend!
bpb FREEBIE: Delish deal exclusively for subscribers at Gostana. For this and other discounts, as well as a FREE weekend guide in your inbox every Friday, enter your email in the subscription box.
Plus, we’re giving away a bunch of VIP passes to the Redbull Speedlink on the Bandra- Worli Sea Link this Sunday. For yours, email guide@bpbweekend.com. Going fast!
bpb Contest: Every week this October, bpb is giving away five FREE memberships to BagSutra.com, India’s first luxury handbag rental service. All you have to do to win access to a hot designer bag for a week is tell us about the sneakiest thing you’ve ever carried in your handbag. To win, send in your answers to guide@bpbweekend.com. See last week’s winning entries here.
bLOW
What: Adult theme parties, Party Hunterz, Shabistan C.S.H.L, Dr Ambedkar Road, opp Brownie Point, Bandra (W), email sharon@partyhunterz.com, price on request.
Why: Rastafarian riots, lovely luaus, superhero soirees - anything you think up, these planners can execute, complete with décor and costumes. They open their doors this Diwali, right in time for the party season.
Why: Here, pets get private temperature controlled rooms equipped with customised beds and insulated roofing. They also have access to a swimming pool, masseuse, and friend circles with like-minded canines. Trips can last from 24 hours to two months.
When: You want your vacation to go to the dogs.
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What:Bag in a Bag, call Beverly on 9820792918 or visit her stall on October 10 at Candies Bazaar & Bling next to Learners Academy, Bandra (W), Rs 90 to Rs 250.
Why: These silk organisers carry essentials, fit in any bag and ensure you don’t misplace stuff on your switch from satchel to sling. We also love the patchwork lingerie and stiletto bags. Customised orders available.
When: You want to get Carrie(d) away.
bOUQUET
What: Crush Course by We Know Vino wine club at The Tasting Room, Raghuvanshi Mills, Lower Parel, call 65285284 to register.
Why: Virgin wine enthusiasts learn the ropes from model and sommelier Shamita Singha. Part of her newly launched wine club, this crash course teaches you the basics in grape varieties, wine styles, label reading, storage, serving, food pairing and more.
Check out our new website at www.bpbweekend.com! The trend is near. We can smell it. We like what we sniff, but we don’t like what we pay. Casual-chic cafes selling overpriced sandwiches stuffed with fancy cheeses and organic yummies - that’s what Mumbai’s culinary circuit is dishing out. The latest - Sandwich & Co in Bandra - joins the likes of Indigo Deli, Bagel Shop and Gostana, selling expensive whole wheat and multi-grain sandwiches, along with show-off shelves that display three-citrus fruit jams, garlic and parsley mustard, black olive paste, green tea bottles, salty crackers, smoked cheese, Spanish cured chorizo and pretty much anything you usually buy at Nature’s Basket or Santé. The bread selection isn’t as exciting, though. In the Company of Delicious It was hard to keep from drooling over the shelves, but then it was time to order. A welcome distraction. After glancing at the menu we decided on the BBQ Chicken and More Than Mozzarella sandwiches from the set menu, and a multi grain one with roasted garlic mayo, mushrooms, scamorza smoked cheese, iceberg lettuce and other greens from the make-your-own sandwich counter. The men behind it, were informed enough to tell us that the Spinach and Corn Baps didn’t go with the smoked scamorza. They also let us try multiple cheeses – no matter how expensive or sealed - before our taste buds finally picked one.
Time, Forbes and other literature kept us company while we waited in the seating area outside, a setting that might not be so peaceful after the freak showers leave us with the violent October heat. But last evening, it was cool and quiet, the answer to Bandra’s people-spilling hangouts off Carter Road. We actually heard the crisp iceberg lettuce crunch between our teeth when we got down to business ten minutes later, a half read magazine fluttering by the side. The Breaded Moment The combinations were well put together, the greens fresh, and the roasted garlic mayo, delish. The finale act - the Apple Crumble - didn't disappoint either. But none of the picks were tasty enough to warrant the exorbitant prices we saw on the bill. While the Chicken BBQ was reasonably priced at Rs 175, the make-your-own vegetarian sandwich cost us a cool Rs 315, and the mozzarella one was Rs 225. And the café, though fancy on the inside, can’t boast of a seating area that makes you want to stay. Expensive Pick-ups Here, the price tags take away the casual air that’s supposed to sit inside a sandwich. The kind that makes you want to pick one up en route, stuff it in a brown paper bag, and lug it to work without wondering if you dropped part of the 300-rupee organic filling while paying the cabbie. So will these costly pick-ups succeed in seducing Bandra? They mayo, they mayo not. Getting there: Shop no 2, ground floor, Perry Cross Road, ahead of Turquoise, Bandra (W). Call 26553366 (free home delivery). At Brown Paper Bag, we review restaurants anonymously and pay for our own meals.
Check out our new website at www.bpbweekend.com!
