Pom-Fret and Fume

Check out our website on http://www.bpbweekend.com

Hey Girl, Hey Buoy

In a sea of tired hobbies, this one’s fresh off the boat. Started by filmmaker Vishal Mahadkar, the Bombay Fishing Club wants Mumbai to wake up to the fact that fishing is more than just a post-retirement, fuddy-duddy activity. “It's fun, relaxing, and meditative – just what the doctor ordered for the stressed out, high strung Mumbaikar,” says Vishal, who has been into the sport since he was a little boy.

Early Worms Get the Fish

Barely a week old, The Bombay Fishing Club doesn’t claim to be structured and won’t make you pay a joining fee. All you have to do is follow the Facebook group to keep track of the weekend fishing trips that you can get in on. But sign up soon, as they fill up pretty fast. In fact, the club's first expedition to Alibaag this Sunday is already booked out.

What’s the Angle?

The club isn’t just for fishing enthusiasts. It’s also open to amateurs, and even supplies out equipment. Usually, members take a boat out from the Gateway or drive to a scenic beach on the outskirts of Mumbai, drop a line, and hope something bites. If you score, the trip could end in a barbeque, in anticipation of which we found the perfect recipe. Using our charm as bait, we got the fish aficionados at Soul Fry Casa to share their (surprisingly simple) secret to the yummiest barbeque fish ever!

Catchers on the Fly

Spicy Coconut Fish with Herb Yogurt Chutney

Recipe from Soul Fry Casa
1/2 cup plain flour
1/4 cup grated coconut
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp chilli powder
1/4 tsp pepper powder
1 lemon squeezed
1 kg boneless fish (ghol or rawas or pomfret)
2 eggs lightly beaten
salt to taste

Combine flour, coconut, turmeric, chilli powder and lemon juice in a bowl. Dip fish into beaten eggs. Toss in flour mixture, shake off excess flour. Barbecue fish on hot greased barbecue plate until tender. Serve with dressing.

For Herb Yoghurt Dressing
3/4 cup beaten curd
1/4 cup mayonnaise
3-4 tlsp finely chopped dill
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
salt and sugar to taste

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Whisk lightly. Ready to serve

PS: Recipe can be prepared three hours in advance.

Breaching the Fort

Optical Illusion

At first glance Saxonia, a little optometric store looks perfectly ordinary, like any other business in the commercial Fort district. You'd hardly imagine that it conceals a secret staircase in the back, one that leads to treasures like a giant spoon big enough to cradle a baby, and a tiny man who rides on the back of a stapler.

Bested in Bandra

Opened on Sunday, Tappu Ki Dukaan calls itself "a little shop with little knick knacks and a lot more", but it is really a contemporary curio store that stocks a range of quirky brands including Happily Unmarried, Pop Goes the Art and Mixed Juice Designs. On closer inspection, it seems like a (slightly outdated) version of Loose Ends in Bandra - a lot of the stock ("Cheeni" mugs, doormats, shot glasses) is stuff we've seen months ago at the suburban store.

Bright Spots

There are, however, a handful of unique offerings: Tappu Ki Dukaan is the only Mumbai retailer of Haathi Chaap stationary, ridiculously cute and made completely out of elephant poo (Rs 200 onwards); the abovementioned giant spoon-shaped starter platter by Happily Unmarried (Rs 740); Mukul Goel's stainless steel figures (Rs 400 onwards); Bus Kya BEST bags (Rs 550); and framed prints (Rs 550 onwards) amassed by the owner over the years, including a really beautiful black and white photo of a couple frozen in mid-embrace.

Go if you need a kitschy gift, or for the adventure of finding a hidden store peddling trinkets both banal and bemusing.

Getting there: 27-A, Kermani Building, mezzanine foor, Sir P.M. Road, opposite Citibank, Fort, call 22043716.

Café Art

The Fort neighbourhood got another tenant this week - Worli resident Banyan Tree Bakery and Café has expanded into Gallery BMB, and this one is a vast improvement over the original. The café is bright, airy and uber-chic, complete with textured white walls, minimalistic black chairs and a giant glass bowl filled with pom-pom lights.

Like the space, the menu is surprisingly vast for a gallery café, including Mexican appetizers, pizzas, burgers, and a full breakfast spread in addition to artisan teas and coffees. Also offered are Banyan Tree's signature desserts like luscious blueberry cheesecake, Tiramisu and chocolate torte.

Visit soon, while the place is still relatively undiscovered (before long it will be over-run by school kids from the neighbouring J.B. Petit and Cathedral), and in time to catch the LaVA Exhibit, hosted by Gallery BMB until January 29, 2010.

Getting there: Gallery BMB, Queens Mansion, ground floor, GT Marg, Fort, call 22000061.

Nice Rack!

Check out our new website on www.bpbweekend.com!

Tee-ser Campaign

Karan Gonsalves finds inspiration for his T-shirts in the oddest places – the tattoo of a beautiful woman, a butterfly trapped between her lips; pulsing beats of electronic music; the footwork of a freestyle dancer. And that’s perhaps what makes his designs so unique.

Once an advertising executive and fashion school hopeful in New York, Karan founded Keylow six months ago, producing high quality T-shirts (he promises that they won't fade or shrink) that he "would want to wear." His newest collection features random geometric designs, cool face prints, music artists and more. Despite the eclectic motifs, his tees have a couple of things in common – they're all limited editions, and more importantly, non-corny. Karan’s personal pick is a Daft Punk tee celebrating Revolution 909, one of his favourite songs.

Space – the Final Frontier

For now, Keylow is available exclusively online (www.fashnvia.com), but catch a preview at the designer's home this weekend (see address below). Also starting next week, you can browse through the racks at Attic, Santacruz and SOBO, Hughes Road for Karan’s designs. And soon, he hopes, a separate Keylow store will surface. Probably in Mumbai’s hippest neighbourhood, if his “I’d rather be in Bandra” T-shirt is anything to go by.

Getting there: Exhibition runs Friday to Sunday from 12 pm to 7 pm at Conville, Convent Road, in the lane opposite Candies, Bandra (W), Call 9833804272, Rs 500.

Happy Logic
Cheer is in the air, and one band is finding logic in all the bliss. Describing their music as “easy listening with bursts of electro, rock, jazz and blues”, Mumbai band Bliss Logic shares their current playlist with bpb. They're performing at Il Terrazzo on December 16 at 10 pm, as part of the popular Daddy’s Windsong Wednesdays. Be there to take notes.

Bliss Logic’s Playlist:

Bird and the Bee - Diamond Dave
Bird and the Bee - What's In the Middle
Shair & Funk - Secrets
Imogen Heap - Ellipse
Gary Willis - No Sweat
Square Pusher - Square Window
John Mayer - Edge of Desire
Drum and Bass For Papa - Luke

Getting there: Il Terrazzo above delItalia, opposite Juhu Beach, Juhu Tara Road, call 26184040.

Make-Shift Mumbai

Check out our new website at www.bpbweekend.com!

Getting Mumbaikars to make a long-term commitment is difficult. And who can blame them? With so many new things to do in the city each day, monogamy seems too cruel a rule. It’s no surprise then, that everything from stores to restaurants are playing the pop-up card.

High Browse

The newest venture catering to the cultural commitment-phobes is LaVA (Laboratory of Visual Arts), brainchild of celebrated artist and curator Bose Krishnamachari. At first, this temporary library seems like quite a departure for an artist best known for his psychedelic, mind-bending canvases. But look closely, and you’ll see reflections of his saturated hues and linear forms in the boxy bookshelves he designed for this project; the eclectic nature of his art, which covers everything from a symbolic swirl of colour to a solemn man in a Gandhi cap, is echoed in the wide range of materials present.

And a wide range it is, with over 5,000 books and 2,000 DVDs and CDs on art, cinema, architecture, design, fashion, cultural studies and philosophy. Available for browsing but not borrowing, these are the best short-term benefits in the city. Pay special attention to treasures from Krishnamachari’s personal collection, including works by Ed Roche, Damien Hirst, and the King of Pop-Art himself, Andy Warhol.

Canvassing for Art

Part of a celebration to commemorate Krishnamachari’s 20 years in the art world, the LaVA project, which opens at Gallery BMB today, has culled visual art practices from museums, institutions, galleries, shops and streets of global art capitals. With this library, first conceived in 2006, Krishnamachari tries to offer budding artists and lay people a deeper insight into the different and constantly shifting avenues of art. He calls it “a growing work in progress” – much like our fair city.

Getting there: Gallery BMB, Queens Mansion, ground floor, GT Marg, Fort, call 22000061. On until January 29, 2010.

A Tale of Two Cities

And nothing showcases Mumbai as a work in progress better than Bombay Then Mumbai Now, a new coffee table book written by Jim Masselos and Naresh Fernandes that launches today. Divided neatly into two sections celebrating the past and pondering the present, the book is almost eerily schizophrenic, similar to, some may argue, its subject matter.

One side of the book cover is sepia toned and wistfully vintage, the other bright-eyed and contemporary. Both sections feature some great photos, although the fisher folk, over-crowded locals and sweeping sea-link in the “Mumbai Now” have all been done before. The real gems lie in the “Bombay Then” segment, where the city looks like little more than a small seaside town. Photos from the latter part of the 1800s, which show the construction of Mumbai University and Rajabhai Clocktower, and a view of the Mahalaxmi Temple watching over a few low roofs, are particularly spectacular.

Getting there: Available at Crosswords, Rs 2,975.

Door Stoppers

bpb Freebie: Subscribers get hot discount from Lotus Blossom Thai catering service. For this and more freebies, enter your email in the subscription box.

bLANCH

What: Turning Tables, bpb’s new underground kitchen club, email guide@bpbweekend.com, Rs 500 this month, BYOB.

Why: bpb’s very own make-shift restaurants! Every month, we’ll organise dinner at a bpb subscriber’s home, featuring meals cooked by celebrated chefs, interesting conversation, and the chance to hang with new people. All you have to do to attend is email us – first come, first serve! Our chef this month is Kshama Prabhu, who heads the kitchen at Tasting Room.

When: You want to join a sup(p)er club. December 22, 9 pm.

pAUSE

What: Rainbow Gay Pride Store by Azaad Bazaar, corner of 16th and 33rd Road, ground floor, opposite Mini Punjab, off Linking Road, Bandra (W), start at Rs 100.

Why: At India’s first permanent LGBT store, you’ll find everything your bedroom needs: linens, curtains, handcuffs, boas and masks. Showcased too are other socially conscious goods and products made by local artists. You’ll also find rainbow sprinkles at Butterfly, a cupcake bakery opening in Bandra on December 21. bpb review out soon!

When: You want to stir a cause. Store opens December 12 at 11 am.

***

What: Dial-a-rapper, call Siddharth Sood on 9890532996 or log onto www.mcsid.in, price on request.

Why: This former channel [V] VJ opened for Akon in Mumbai and is a great value add to any event. He’ll rap in-between tracks, spontaneously stringing together witty verses about you, your friends, your grandma, your goldfish and anyone else who got an invite.

When: You need a rhyme and reason to party.

bLACK & BLUE

What: Mixed Martial Arts Fight Night, Famous Studio, Mahalaxmi, call Prashant on 9821133980 for passes, price TBD.

Why: Full Contact Entertainment is back with round two of Mumbai’s secret fight night, where you can eat, drink and watch India’s best MMA fighters show off their moves.

When: Fight night is not until December 19 at 7pm, but prior registration is required.

***

What: Nailed at Champagne Salon, Imperial Plaza, 30th Road, lane opposite China Gate, Bandra (W), Call 26404000, Rs 600.

Why: When you visit Champagne salon in Bandra, look out for the fine prints. Here, nail technicians can scan any material – your favourite Warhol T-shirt, mum’s antique table cloth, Goa floral bikini – and transfer the design on to your nails.

When: You’re looking for clip art.

Event Round-Up: Mango’s Christmas Collection preview at C’est La Vie on Saturday, DJ Lolly G at Valhalla on Saturday, and DJ ANKYTRIXX at China House on Wednesday.

Breaking a Date

Check out our new website at www.bpbweekend.com!

Merry Poppins

Wake up. Brush teeth. Break a date. Drive to work.

The Bubble Calendar 2010 allows you to pop out of your rut, even if just for a split second. This ingenious calendar takes the bubble wrap we all love to burst to an entirely new level, with each date on the calendar marked with a pop-able bubble.

Wall Power
A super fun accessory that gives your walls a nice lift, this calendar has received rave reviews, being dubbed “the cleverest calendar ever” and the “best kind of pop art”. The Bubble Calendar is available in horizontal and vertical designs, and printed on thick 80 pound cover stock paper.

Born in the USA
Designed and handmade in Brooklyn, USA, Bubble Calendars can be mailed anywhere in the world. Unfortunately, they are marked with American holidays only. Popping Thanksgiving may be no fun for us desis, but we can still take a shot at Valentine’s Day.

Getting There: Log on to www.bubblecalendar.com or email info@BubbleCalendar.com, approximately Rs 950 (20 USD) plus shipping charges.

City Planning

Also helping you organise the New Year is veteran designer Krsna Mehta, with his signature pop art-style Mumbai Planner 2010. Adorned with bus tickets bills, daily dabbas, tottering taxis and Bollywood action, it allows you to keep your date with the city’s most iconic motifs. Definitely beats that corporate diary your office hands out at the end of every year. Get your preview here.

Getting There: Available at Good Earth, Juhu and Lower Parel; Indigo Deli, Colaba; Bombay Store, Fort; Leopold, Colaba and Rhythm House, Kala Ghoda, Rs 300, available next week onwards.

Ladies Special

Check out our new website at www.bpbweekend.com!

Sizing Up
An English professor remarked to one of us Secret Scouters that fiction writing is as complicated as brain surgery, but the difference is that everyone thinks they can be an author. The same it seems, is true of fashion in Mumbai today, with the city staggering under the weight of upcoming “designers”, trained or otherwise. But after much scouting, we managed to find a couple of originals in this swelling sea of fakes, and right in time for the party season. Lo and behold!

For Good Measure
Natasha Agarwal and Rashmi Somani have studied under stalwarts like Narendra Kumar and Krishna Mehta and the training shows in their clothes, which they stock at stores like Amara, Zoya and You. Drop into their Cuffe Parade living room-cum-studio, and you can have them custom design an outfit or browse through their readymade stock, sans the mark-ups.

Winning the Day
In honour of the holiday season, this design duo is concentrating on evening wear, including a killer silver twist dress. But we like their day time collection best, with its wispy white and solid black shirts and dresses, brightened up by an unexpected but well-placed pleat or rush of colourful pom-poms. Their design tip for the season: “Accessorise with pop-art colours. There’s nothing that accentuates a purple dress better than blue shoes.”

Getting there: Call Natasha Agrawal at 9820221956, daywear starts at Rs 2,500.

Skirting Around
You can also pad up your wardrobe at the latest Chamomile store, which debuted at the Palladium in Phoenix Mills, and do the Day Disco with Cue designers Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna at Bombay Electric on Thursday, December 10 from 6pm to 10 pm.

bpb Exclusive: Be sure to check out the newly launched 99labels.com for huge designer discounts as well. Get your FREE membership code specially for bpb subscribers, here.

bpb Backstage Pass: For a direct route to other designers who stock at the city’s hippest stores, click here.

Hot Off the Press

Check out our new website at www.bpbweekend.com!

War Thai

When two spas rub shoulders in the same neighbourhood, there’s bound to be friction. And located just one shop away, Bandra’s spanking new Aura Thai Spa has inched too close for comfort for the popular Aroma Thai Foot Spa, which is fighting tooth and nail to keep its turf, a slew of discounts and new treatments in its arsenal. This is war, and we hope that in the end customers will be the winners.
Spa-ticus in the Ring

Dressed in gold and red with Thai elephants at the door, Aura is attractive enough to pull in passing feet. Strangely, their meet and greet counter is also outside the door, where we were made to exchange our city shoes for comfy bamboo footwear. Inside, the cozy space is broken up into several small booths that made us feel boxed in rather than relaxed. But to be fair, the areas are fresh and pretty, with beds covered in oriental print silks. The massage menu on the other hand is unimaginative, with the done-to-death chocolate wrap qualifying amongst the most exotic treatments available. The prices are steep, with the basic full body dry massage and foot rub both starting at Rs 1,250. The deft hands of our masseuse, however, almost justified the price tag.

Feet-al Position

Establishing a new business is always a rocky road, and Aura Thai Spa has more than its share of bumps ahead, seeing as it's sharing space with the Aroma Thai. The veteran spa has pulled out the big guns, offering 25% off on select packages, new winter green hot oil treatments, and a launch of their Esscents product range. What may, work in Aura’s favour is the separate sections for men and women, and concentration on full body treatments - reflexology, scrubs, wraps, exfoliation and rub downs - as opposed to just peds : (a less similar moniker would have helped too).

So go have a look at the place – if it doesn’t suit your fancy, you can always rest your feet at the tried-and-tested alternative down the street.
Getting there: Shop no 1, Chetak Society, next to Juice hair salon, Pali Hill, Bandra (W). Call 65220000. Open from 10 am to 10 pm.

bpb Review: Aer

Check out our new website at www.bpbweekend.com!

Opening on December 11, the terrace bar at the Four Seasons Hotel is the most anticipated new entrant on Mumbai’s burgeoning bar scene. But ten minutes into Aer’s launch party on Saturday night, we, along with our sky-high expectations were brought firmly down to earth.

Bursting Our Bubble

Split into two connected sections, the space was packed to the rafters, a circumstance that we imagine will hold true for at least the next couple of months. It took us a good fifteen minutes to maneuver our way to the makeshift bar, a quest we pursued in anticipation of a glass Moet & Chandon, which Aer will reportedly serve at half price during Champagne Hour from 5:30 to 8 pm daily.

But when we got there we were politely informed that the bar wasn’t serving any champagne. Or shooters, or cocktails. A real damper, and surprisingly stingy for the Four Seasons. They did, however, have some good beers (Carlsberg, Hoegarden) as well as excellent whisky (Chivas). Also available were Absolut vodka, Havana Club rum, and a couple of white and red wines.

Smoggy Bottom

Clutching glasses of Jacob’s Creek, we wound our way toward the glass-framed boundaries to check out the view: dusty and largely disappointing. To be fair, the night was unusually smoggy, and reduced the far-spreading cityscape to little more than a blur.

Nothing they could do about that. But there were other things that the management could control, many of which they got right (apart from the perplexingly limited selection of alcohol). The décor was perfect – elegant and urban, with couches and individual seats in black and white, and a truly beautiful egg-shaped bar. Service was as good as one could have expected in the face of the throng, with cheerful wait staff circulating through the crowd. And the music was hot, manned by the very talented DJ Shaan Bhavnani. A flash of the hospitality Four Seasons is famous for was evident on our way out, when we were handed a very nice gift bag containing yum candy and macaroons as well as a set of handkerchiefs from The Collective.

Castle in the Sky

There’s no denying that Aer fills a gaping hole in Mumbai’s nightlife – we’re evolving into a city of skyscrapers and we need a real terrace bar to enjoy the view (the Dome is lovely, but it’s only on the eighth floor). This place will probably show off best at sunset when the crowd is less overpowering, the champagne chilled and relatively cheap (they have Rajkhan Pathan who crafted the delicious champagne cocktails at Wink on board, so be sure to try one of those as well), the green of the Race Course and steel gray sea visible in the distance. We’ll take in the cool breeze, make a toast to our fair city, and decide it was totally worth knocking out of work an hour early.

Can’t wait!

Getting there: Aer Bar and Lounge, Four Seasons Hotel, 114 Dr. E Moses Road, Worli, call 24818000.

Weekend Guide: City Sightings

Check out our new website at www.bpbweekend.com!

bpb freebie: Subscribers get piping hot discount from health conscious dabba service, Calorie Care. For this and more freebies, enter your email in the subscription box.

bpb Contest: We’re giving away a bunch of passes to the Rajasthan Roots performance at Bonobo on Sunday, December 6 at 6.30 pm. For yours, email us at guide@bpbweekend.com. Going fast!

bRAND NEW

What: Aer Bar and Lounge, Four Seasons Hotel, 114 Dr. E Moses Road, Worli, call 24818000.

Why: Because there’s a sip in the Aer. Situated on the 34th floor, Mumbai’s first terrace bar offers astonishing views of the city and an awesome champagne happy hour. Go between 5.30 and 8 pm, and you can score a glass of Moet & Chandon for just Rs 500.

When: Opens to the public on December 11, but we’ll be at the launch party tomorrow night. Check in for the bpb review on Sunday!

***

What: Deep designer discounts from http://99labels.com, apply for membership on the site or keep checking www.missmalini.com for an invite code, membership free.

Why: Launched just yesterday, this site offers discounts of up to 70% on merchandise from one Indian or international (although they haven’t procured anyone yet) designer every week. Satya Paul is the current flavor, with saris slashed from Rs 27,000 to Rs 17,000 and cuff links marked down from Rs 1,500 to Rs 900. Next in line is Ashish N Soni, followed by Shantanu and Nikhil and Rocky S.

When: You need a site for sore eyes.

pOP UP

What: Everything Japan Shop, Grand Hyatt Plaza, Grand Hyatt, Santacruz (E), starts at Rs 1,400.

Why: This pop-up Japanese store is in town for just three months, carrying with it both clichés and surprises. We love the porcelain USB drives, lacquer bento boxes and ornate chopsticks for our cutlery and chignons. Miso excited!

When: You want to dig into a movable (f)East. Read the full review here.

***

What: Conversation starting cocktail napkins by Blue Pepper, call Gita Murti on 09823416653, Rs 400 for a set of 6, minimum order of two sets.

Why: These Pune-based designers embroider snatches of drunken banter - wine a little, it helps; whisky tastes better with friends – on cool cocktail napkins. A fresh batch of pub eavesdropping is currently under production.

When: You’re looking for some hanky-panky. From December 15 to February 1, Blue Pepper will break their bulk-order-only rule to take individual requests, exclusively for bpb subscribers.

bOOM

What: Silent Noise private parties, visit http://www.silentnoise.in/about/ or call 09730935334, price on request.

Why: Skip the band-baaja this wedding season for a silent noise party, where music is piped through individual wireless headphones rather than booming speakers. Successfully running similar gigs in Goa and Pune, these guys also supply other equipment, DJs, lasers and screens. But remember, it’ll cost you more than a song.

When: You want to be as quiet as a (g)rave. ***

Event Round-up: The Mill Culture Crawl, Mathuradas Mill Compound, Lower Parel from Dec 4-6; Upper Crust Show at World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade from Dec 4-6; and listen to us guest-host Pirate Radio with Miss Malini on 94.3, where we played our top 10 tracks and spilled Mumbai's deepest, darkest secrets.

Calling Your Name (Quite Literally)

Culled from a list we wrote for CNNGo.com, below are some of our favourite gifting ideas this season. Highly personalised and uber cool, they’re guaranteed to earn you some major brownie points.Plus, you can be sure they won’t land up in the wrong stocking!

Poems that Rhyme with Your Tune

From the beak of a Gabriel Garcia Marquez parrot to an exposed reel in a film can, these poems (or blahs, as their crafters prefer to call them) have found their way into the oddest of places. Give them a few details, and the Shahs of Blah will write customised odes for any occasion, also hand picking the quirkiest carriers to present them in.

Getting there: Email poems.ideashop@gmail.com, Rs 1,000 and up.

Bespoke Book, of Indian Mythological Fame

Ashok Banker is best known for his freewheeling retelling of Indian mythology, but in "Vortal: Shockwave", he moves into the future zone. A limited edition available through the holiday season and complete with a personalised note from the author, this book is guaranteed to make you a 'legend' in gifting circles.

Getting There: Visit www.ashokbanker.com, Rs 400 for the large paperback version.

Read about more cool personalised presents in our story on CNNGO.com.

Easy as Pie!

Speaking of tailor made, we got Paul Kinny, Executive Chef of InterContinental Marine Drive to dish on his secret pizza crust recipe. Add sauce and toppings of your choice, and voila! you have your very own culinary masterpiece.

Thin Pizza Crust

Recipe by Paul Kinny, Executive Chef, InterContinental Marine Drive

5 gms yeast
5 gms of sugar
3/4 cup of lukewarm water
100gms of plain flour
Salt to taste

Combine dry yeast, sugar and lukewarm water. Mix a little and let sit for 6-8 minutes. Combine plain flour with salt in a bowl. Pour the water combination into the bowl (or food processor) and mix until ready to knead (around 30 seconds in a food processor). If using a bowl, mix with a spoon until you have a neat ball. Prepare a lightly sprinkled surface with flour. Turn out dough and knead for around 2-3 minutes. Lightly cover your finger tips with flour if the mixture is a little sticky. Roll out by hand for a 12'' base. Place in 12'' lightly oiled oven pan. Press out dough to form a slight lip. Prepare and apply your sauce and topping or choice. Cook in a pre-heated oven (450-500F) for 8-12 minutes. Remove from oven and enjoy!

For more cool recipes from this dessert guru, check out Second Helping, bpb's newest culinary service.

Pretty as a Picture

Around the World

Launched yesterday as part of the Festival of France, photographs from the Earth from Above project are being displayed at a most unlikely gallery – Marine Drive, where they compete for space with determined joggers, idle college kids and covert lovers.

Taken by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, renowned artist and founder of the Good Planet Foundation, the images are all aerial views of Earth, shot from between 30 and 3,000 ft above ground level, and coupled with write-ups on corresponding environmental issues. Displayed in over a 100 countries, they have finally landed in our fair city; one look, and you’ll be glad they did.

Life Imitating Art

Can that place be real, we thought, as we took in the astonishing vistas – a natural formation of vegetation in Voh, New Caledonia is shaped like a perfect heart; an impossible swirl of blue-green ends up being a village in the Philippines; the Tree of Life in Tsavo-East National Park, Kenya pulses like a neuron with dendrites spreading far across the parched land.

Along with being visually stunning in an otherworldly way – some of these photographs look more like the abstract works of Pollock and Motherwell - the images evoke a range of emotions, from the optimism of a rainbow arching over frozen glaciers to the despair in the wreckage of a submerged village outside Dhaka. The role of civilization too, is explored, sometimes visualised as completely overwhelming the Earth (a patchwork of cotton fabrics in Sanganer, Rajasthan, covers the ground for as far as the eye can see) to barely making a dent on it (a cruise liner forms an insignificant blip on a sea of broken ice).

Point Noted?

All in all, the exhibit tells a powerful story, especially when set against the backdrop of our own bay, pretty and polluted. Its plea to the save the environment might at the very least dissuade visitors from throwing empty potato chip packets into the sea. On display for little over a month, they’ll be taken down on January 8 next year, but for now, these gems form a welcome addition to the Queen’s Necklace.

Getting there: Exhibit starts from Veer Nariman Road, opposite the Pizzeria on Marine Drive, and runs approximately 500 meters north.

I, Artist

If you have a hankering to see your work displayed in an unlikely spot as well, check out the Coldplay Exhibition Room, a digital art gallery that curates and showcases art submissions from the Brit band’s fans (or not). Exhibits change every day, and are quirky enough to justify a ten minute work break. You can even bill it as personal development time.

Getting there: Visit http://www.coldplay.com/exhibitionroom.php, or make submissions here.